Copycat Lofthouse Cookies Will Make You So Nostalgic for Childhood

For nan cookies:

• 8 tablespoons

  (1 stick) unsalted butter

• 4 ounces

  cream cheese

• 1

  large egg

• 2 1/4 cups

  all-purpose flour, positive much for rolling

• 3 tablespoons

  cornstarch

• 1 teaspoon

  baking powder

• 3/4 teaspoon

  kosher salt

• 1 cup

  granulated sugar

• 2 teaspoons

  vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon

  almond extract (or an further 1/4 spoon vanilla extract)

For nan frosting and decorating:

• 8 tablespoons

  (1 stick) unsalted butter

• 1/8 teaspooon

  kosher salt

• 2 cups

  powdered sugar

• 1 tablespoon

  milk

• 1 teaspoon

  vanilla extract

• Food coloring (optional)

• Sprinkles (optional)

Make nan cookies:

1. Place 1 instrumentality unsalted food and 4 ounces pick food successful nan vessel of a guidelines mixer (or ample vessel if utilizing an electrical manus mixer). Place 1 ample ovum and 1 instrumentality unsalted food (for nan frosting) connected nan counter. Let everything beryllium astatine room somesthesia until nan food and pick food are softened.

2. Meanwhile, spot 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 spoon baking powder, and 3/4 spoon kosher brackish into a mean vessel and whisk to combine.

3. Beat nan food and pick food pinch nan paddle attachment connected mean velocity until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup granulated sweetener and hit connected mean velocity until mixed and creamy, astir 1 minute, stopping and scraping nan sides of nan vessel down pinch a elastic spatula arsenic needed.

4. Add nan egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1/4 spoon almond extract. Beat connected mean velocity until incorporated and lightened successful color, astir 30 seconds. Add nan flour substance and hit connected nan lowest velocity until conscionable combined. Transfer nan mixed to a expanse of integrative wrap and style into a disc. Wrap nan mixed up successful nan integrative wrap. Refrigerate for astatine slightest 1 hr aliases up to 3 days.

5. Arrange 2 racks to disagreement nan oven into thirds and power nan oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets pinch parchment insubstantial aliases silicone baking mats.

6. Lightly flour a activity surface. Unwrap nan mixed and spot connected nan flour. Lightly flour nan apical of nan mixed and a rolling pin. Roll retired nan mixed until 1/2-inch thick. Cut cookies retired pinch a floured 3-inch cooky cutter (or usage a information cutter 3-inches successful diameter), dipping nan cutter successful flour arsenic needed betwixt cuts.

7. Gather nan scraps and shape them into a ball. Roll retired again until 1/2-inch heavy and trim retired much cookies. Only re-roll nan mixed erstwhile and discard immoderate remaining dough. Transfer nan rounds onto nan baking sheets, 9 per baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart.

8. Bake for 6 minutes. Rotate nan baking sheets betwixt racks and from beforehand to back. Bake until nan edges of nan cookies are group and ray aureate brown, 4 to 7 minutes more. The cookies whitethorn look a spot underdone successful nan halfway but they will decorativeness cooking arsenic they cool. Let nan cookies cool wholly connected nan baking sheets, astir 1 hour. Meanwhile, make nan frosting.

Make nan frosting:

1. Wash and barren nan mixing bowl. Place nan remaining 1 instrumentality softened unsalted food and 1/8 spoon kosher successful nan bowl. Beat pinch nan whisk attachment connected medium-high velocity until ray and fluffy, astir 2 minutes.

2. With nan mixer connected debased speed, slow hit successful 2 cups powdered sweetener successful 3 to 4 increments. Continue beating connected mean velocity until ray and fluffy again, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 tablespoonful beverage and 1 spoon vanilla extract, and hit until combined. For colored frosting, adhd a fewer drops of nutrient coloring if desired and hit until combined.

3. Spread a heavy furniture of frosting complete each cooky pinch an offset spatula aliases food knife. Decorate pinch sprinkles if desired.