Walmart-Style Sugar Cookies with Buttercream (Printable)
Soft, bakery-style sugar cookies with creamy buttercream frosting—a nostalgic sweet treat perfect for any occasion.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Sugar Cookies
01 - 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1/4 cup sour cream
→ For the Buttercream Frosting
10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
13 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt
15 - Food coloring (optional)
16 - Sprinkles (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, beating until well combined. Mix in sour cream until incorporated.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut circles approximately 2.5 inches in diameter and place on prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are just set. Cookies should remain pale without browning. Cool completely on wire rack.
09 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, salt, and cream. Beat on high for 2-3 minutes until fluffy. Mix in food coloring if desired.
10 - Once completely cool, spread or pipe frosting generously on top of cookies. Add sprinkles if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sour cream is the secret ingredient that creates an impossibly tender crumb
- These cookies stay soft for days unlike typical cutout sugar cookies
- The buttercream tastes exactly like the bakery frosting you loved as a kid
02 -
- Overbaking is the enemy of soft cookies, pull them out when edges look set but centers seem slightly underdone
- Chilling the dough is nonnegotiable or your cookies will spread too much and lose that thick bakery style shape
- Completely cool cookies before frosting or the buttercream will melt right off
03 -
- Use a kitchen scale to measure flour for consistent results every time
- Add a drop of almond extract to the frosting for that classic bakery flavor twist