Free Bakery-Style Drop Sugar Cookie Recipe (+ Buttercream Frosting)

Celebrate National Sugar Cookie Day with a little sweetness straight from our kitchen to yours!

National Sugar Cookie Day deserves something special, so we’re sharing our signature bakery-style drop sugar cookie recipe — the thick, soft, frosting-friendly cookies you know and love from Whats Her Buckets Cookies.

No rolling pins. No cookie cutters. Just big, fluffy cookies made for cozy baking days and sweet celebrations.

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Grab the recipe as a FREE printable PDF for your recipe box!

Sugar Cookie Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened

• 1/3 cup (65 grams) Crisco (i like to use butter flavor, but plain is fine)

• 3/4 cup (150 grams) sugar

• 1/4 cup (30 grams) powdered sugar

• 1 egg

• 1/2 tsp (2 grams) vanilla

• 1/2 tsp (2 grams) almond extract

• 2 3/4 cups (344 grams) flour (spooned & leveled, not packed)

• 1/4 tsp (1 gram) baking soda

• 1/4 tsp (1 gram) baking powder

• 1/4 tsp (1 gram) cream of tartar

• 1/2 tsp (3 grams) salt

• 1 tbsp (15 grams) of half and half

• 11/2 tbsp (22 grams) sour cream

• 2/3 cup green and red jimmies

Cookie Directions

1. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

2. Beat butter, Crisco, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.

3. Mix in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined.

4. With mixer on low, gradually add dry ingredients. Add half-and-half and sour cream; mix until dough forms. Fold in jimmies.
   (If using a hand mixer, finish mixing with a spatula.)

5. Divide dough into 8 large or 16 small cookies, roll into balls, and place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Gently flatten each with the bottom of a glass.

6. Chill dough:

   • 12 hours for best results

   • or 30 minutes uncovered if short on time
     (Cookies should be cold before baking.)

7. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake 3–4 cookies per sheet:

   • Small cookies: 8–10 minutes

   • Large cookies: 11–13 minutes

   Cookies are done when they look set and no longer greasy on top — with no browning on the edges.

8. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a rack.

Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened

• 2 - 21/2 cups (240-300 grams) powdered sugar

• 2 tbsp (30 grams) heavy whipping cream

• 1/4 tsp (1 gram) almond extract

• 3/4 tsp (3 grams) vanilla extract pinch of salt

• Makes 8 large cookies or 16 smaller cookies

Frosting Directions

1. Beat softened butter on medium speed until smooth and fluffy.

2. Add powdered sugar, cream, and salt. Beat until fully combined.

3. Mix in vanilla, almond extract, and food coloring until smooth and evenly colored.

🧀 Cream Cheese Frosting (Optional): Beat butter and cream cheese together on medium speed until fluffy and smooth.

Pro Decorating Tip

Chill your cookies before baking to help them hold their shape and bake evenly — a small step that makes a BIG difference when decorating!

Share the Sweetness

If you use this recipe, we’d LOVE to see what you create!

📸 Tag @WhatsHerBucketsCookies on Instagram
💬 Use #BakeWithWHB

Your creations truly make our day!

Happy National Sugar Cookie Day!
Here’s wishing your oven is warm, your icing is fluffy, and your kitchen is full of sweet memories. 💙🍪

Ready to Decorate In Person?

Love decorating cookies and want to learn more techniques?

Check out our upcoming:

➡ Cookie Decorating Classes
➡ DIY Cookie Kits

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