copycat gluten free lofthouse sugar cookies
nostalgic recipes are my favorite to gluten-free-ify
it’s late may. the breeze is outside is getting warmer. it’s always sunny now, with a bit of clouds. u wake up in the morning for what is almost ur last week of third grade. someone’s dad is already mowing the lawn, causing that amazing fresh cut grass smell to flow in through ur windows.
u get to school. it’s field day. ur team wins, & u celebrate with these magical bad boys that literally are straight sugar:
i can’t hate on them too much… the thick frosting, the actually good rainbow sprinkles (not the gross circles or nonpareils), the unnaturally soft texture. they taste like birthday parties when ur seven. but other than the nostalgia factor & consistency, they are kind of… not great?
they have this weird chemical-y aftertaste & the frosting is pure shortening.
so i wanted to make a version that tastes good & is gluten free!
real butter, real vanilla, whipped buttercream, & the perfect pillowy-soft texture.
the backstory:
i asked my mama what she wanted me to bake for (an early) mother’s day treat, & she said sugar cookies! knowing her, i asked if she meant just chocolate-chip-less cookies or the amazingly artificial super soft lofthouse sugar cookies u buy at walmart…
i think u can guess her answer (˵ ¬ᴗ¬˵)
copycat gluten free lofthouse sugar cookies !! ✧⁺⸜(･ ᗜ ･ )⸝⁺✧
i post new gluten free recipes every week for paid subscribers! ദ്ദി(｡•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊
recipe, ingredients, & instructions:
tips & some helpful science notes:
꩜ sour cream keeps the cookies soft: & give them that unique flavor & texture! sour cream adds fat & moisture so they stay soft for days (i don’t recommend using yogurt or milk as the fat content isn’t the same)
⟡ why cornstarch?: cornstarch is what gives lofthouse cookies that very specific soft texture. it’s pure starch with no protein, so it keeps the cookies tender, instead of dense
⏾ almond & butter extract: not only do almond & butter extracts add a bit more nuance & depth to a basic vanilla flavor, but they also give them that professional-bakery-style taste that elevates the rather sugar-fest that is a lofthouse cookie
substitution guide:
want to kick it up a notch?
lemon sugar cookies: add lemon zest & swap almond extract for lemon extract
chocolate sugar cookies: replace 30 g (¼ c) flour with cocoa powder
funfetti sugar cookies: fold sprinkles into the dough & swap butter extract for cake batter extract
skip da frosting & roll dough in sugar (& cinnamon?) for a more traditional sugar cookie experience
flavor the frosting using various extracts or zests, or add cream cheese for a more tangy frosting
use different colored food colorings & add rainbow swirls to ur cookies
were they soft or did u overbake them? did u do da classic pink frosting or did u get weird with it? are u a rainbow sprinkles fan or do u like the disgraceful nonpareils?
let me know in the comments below, or tag me on socials !!