- 20
- 25 mins
- 155 mins
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour, plus more for dusting work surface
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup salted butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup all vegetable shortening (unflavored), at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 6 Tbsp salted butter, at room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 Tbsp half-and-half
- food coloring, optional (I used Wilton red gel - for the red, and McCormick red liquid for the pink)
Preparation
Step 1
Yes I know, slightly annoying to be posting a Valentines recipe already. I’ll admit I’m sad that the Christmas season is over so I’m moving on to the next holiday I guess =). Besides I didn’t know what shape to go with as January is sort of holiday free so I decided hearts would make the next best fit. I’ve already posted this recipe before but it was slightly different as they weren’t previously rolled out and cut into shapes like these. Have I told you these are my favorite sugar cookies ever!? I worked hard at perfecting this recipe, so now not only do I thoroughly love these but I totally appreciate them as well. Hard earned cookie love. They are delicate (thanks to the cake flour, cornstarch and shortening), perfectly fluffy and thick, with just the right amount of flavor (no bland sugar cookies here. Note: if you’d like you could also add a bit of the almond extract into the frosting as well. It is basically one of the greatest flavors of all time, so why not?). I wanted to mention this cookie base is better to use with less detailed cookie cutters, I’d stick with basic shapes for these. Once you get into more detailed cookie cutters I’d recommend
Directions
Sift flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt into a large bowl, then whisk it just a few times, set aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, on medium speed, whip together butter, shortening and sugar until very pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scrapping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add in egg and mix until combine, then add egg white, vanilla and almond extract and mix until combine. With mixer running, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix just until combine. Shape dough into a ball and transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375 during the last 10 minutes of refrigeration.
Remove dough from refrigerator and sprinkle a clean work surface and top of dough lightly with cake flour. Evenly roll dough out to 1/3-inch thickness (or up to 1/2-inch for thicker cookies, you just wont get as many). Cut into desired shapes (I used a medium heart cookie cutter and got 20 cookies). Transfer to Silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven 8 - 11 minutes (cookies should NOT brown, they should remain a pale color). Remove from oven and allow to cool on baking sheet several minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool. Cool completely then frost with Vanilla Frosting and add sprinkles if desired (immediately after frosting each cookie so the sprinkles will stick before the frosting sets). Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip mixture on low speed until combine, then increase mixer to medium-high speed and whip until frosting is pale, smooth and fluffy.
: I love that you worked hard for this recipe & got it exactly where you want it! That is such a great feeling. I also love that your recipe makes 20. Not 6-7 dozen like some recipes for Lofthouse style cookies!
sally @ sallys baking addiction
: i’m sad to see christmas is over as well, but as a girly girl and a sucker for anything pink and heart shaped – i am quite excited for Vday already! these gorgeous cookies are certainly putting me in the mood. I need to make soft sugar cookies one day, just like these!
Jaclyn: You do need to make soft sugar cookies one day…soon =). I’m a sucker for anything with sugar in it. It’s my biggest weakness in life. Thanks for your comment Sally!
Patti: Just stumbled upon your webpage and I’m loving all of your recipes, and love the Lofthouse cookies. I’m not fond of the store bought kind but will make yours for the crowd. Thanks a bunch.
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