Six of our favorite easy, soft, luxurious sugar cookie frosting recipes are here - vanilla bean, almond, strawberry, chocolate, citrus, and peanut butter! Spread homemade icing on top of thick and soft sugar cookies - similar to Lofthouse-style cookies. Of course, decorate with all the sprinkles your heart desires. There's something for everyone to love!
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter until smooth. Add vanilla bean paste and milk to combine. Add powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments, beating between each addition until smooth. Continue working until light and fluffy. approximately 2-3 minutes on medium speed.
Almond Frosting
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter until smooth. Add almond and vanilla extracts, and milk to combine. Add powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments, beating between each addition until smooth. Continue working until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes on medium speed.
Chocolate Frosting
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter until smooth. Add cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and milk to combine. Add a pinch of salt, and powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments, beating between each addition until smooth. Continue working until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes on medium speed.
Strawberry Frosting
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter until smooth. Add strawberry preserves and mix to combine. Add powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments, beating between each addition until smooth. Continue working until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes on medium speed. You likely won't need milk due to the moisture in the jam, but if you do, add about 1/2 tablespoon at a time until desired texture is reached.
Orange or Lemon Frosting
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter until smooth. Add juice and vanilla extract to combine. Rub the zest with the powdered sugar for additional flavor (optional) then, in 1/2 cup increments, add the sugar to the butter, beating between each addition until smooth. Continue working until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes on medium speed.
Peanut Butter Frosting
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter until smooth. Add peanut butter and mix to combine. Add powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments, beating between each addition until smooth, along with a pinch of salt. Continue working until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes on medium speed. You likely won't need milk due to the moisture in the peanut butter, but if you do, add about 1/2 tablespoon at a time until desired texture is reached. You may want to add an additional 1/2 cup powdered sugar if it is too fluffy and smooth, too.
Notes
Salt: feel free to add a pinch of salt to any of the frostings where it is not listed. A pinch of salt helps balance out the sweetness if needed.Texture: for thinner frosting, add about an extra 1/2 tablespoon milk. For thicker frosting, add additional powdered sugar in 2 tablespoon increments as needed.Serving size: each frosting makes approximately 1 cup of frosting.Nutrition Information: they are estimates based on the ingredients provided. Listed is the nutrition information for the vanilla bean frosting.