Lofthouse Cookie Madness

I'm no longer obsessed with Lofthouse Cookies, but this old post has a list of recipes I've tried at one point or another. If you've got another Lofthouse Cookie clone, feel free to post it in the comment section and I'll move it up to the post area. Also, somewhere between the time I first posted this and now (2023), Stella Parks shared a very highly rated Lofthouse clone on Serious Eats. It will be the next one I try. For now, enjoy this list. I had to remove some links, as they no longer worked or the blogger stopped blogging. Some people left their old blogs, which are such a pleasure to read compared to the blogs of today. I miss the old format sometimes.

Ingredient lists are for comparison. Full recipes are located at the links. Most of them just call for the creaming method.

Recipe Goldmine Lofthouse Cookie

I liked this one best, but it was the least like Lofthouse. The cookies are puffy, golden, cakey and bendy rather than crumbly. They have a great flavor, and after storing them frosted overnight, they tasted even better (though still not crumbly). Make sure to use salted butter. If not, you’ll need to figure out how much salt to use (I recommend a scant teaspoon).

1 cup butter (salted)
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
¾ to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I added a little almond)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 ½ cups sour cream
5-6 cups flour (until desired consistency for rolling)

Two Peas in a Bucket (Blog no longer exists)

This thread is a fun read, but it gets kind of confusing. One member says she has the original ingredient list for the cookie and frosting. A few more members try it and near the end of the thread there’s a “final” version of the recipe with step-by-step directions. I liked the cookies, but they weren’t quite it. What I loved was the icing recipe created by the lady who used egg white, shortening, butter and powdered sugar.

Two Peas in a Bucket Lofthouse Cookie

2 eggs
2 cups sugar (old recipe didn’t say what kind)
2 cups cream (old recipe didn’t say what kind)
¾ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups shortening
Vanilla to taste
8 cups flour (enough to make a dough)

Toasty Frog

Toasty Frog – This is a nice little rundown. She tried three recipes, including the one from Two Peas and a Bucket that’s supposed to be the original. Her notes are on her blog. The (few) notes written next to the ingredients below are mine.

Melt In Your Mouth Sugar Cookies -- haven’t tried it, but these look similar to sawdust cookies.

8 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
½ cup sugar
½ cup powdered sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups flour

Roxymom's Sugar Cookies

Roxymom’s Sugar Cookies – Made these yesterday with sour cream. Will try again with cream, but I don’t think these are quite it. I shouldn't judge until I make these with cream.

¾ cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ cup heavy cream (Toasty frog used whole milk, I tried with sour cream)
2 ¾ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt

Purported Original Lofthouse Cookie Recipe adapted from Two Peas and Bucket and tested by Toasty Frog, though she used whole milk. I tested with sour cream. These didn’t have a good flavor and were too dense and heavy. The original could be based on these proportions, but if so they are making them different at the factory. Plus, this recipe is missing powdered sugar and the Lofthouse label calls for powdered sugar. I will test again with real cream, but I don't think that would help the flavor much.

2 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups cream (Toasty Frog used whole milk in place of cream)
¾ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups shortening
Vanilla to taste
8 cups flour (enough to make a dough)

Sister's Dish or Sisters Dish or Sisters' Dish?

Sister’s Dish – This one calls for a cup of shortening. I’m going to have to try it, but I held off because so many readers hate shortening. Also, the label for Lofthouse cookies and the grocery store bakery copy cat versions (H.E.B. sells their own version) call for margarine.

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 t. vanilla
2 eggs
4 ½ - 5 cups all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
½ t. baking soda
2 t. baking powder

John's Recipe

John’s Recipe from Comment Section of previous post – looks promising. Doesn’t have any milk or sour cream, so I expect it will be a very crumbly, dense but light sugar cookie. It looks a lot like my old Sawdust Cookie recipe, but the cornstarch is an interesting addition and may give the crumbly/dusty texture.

Amish Sugar Cookies

1 c. sugar
1 c. confectioners' sugar
1 c. butter
1 c. oil
2 eggs
3 ½ c. all-purpose flour
1 c. cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Erin's Sugar Cookies aka Lofthouse Clones

This one was sent by Erin who has been making it for years and gets lots of requests for it.

Erin's Sugar Cookies

¾ c butter
¾ c sugar
2 eggs
2 t baking powder
2 t vanilla
3-4 c flour

Mix first 3 ingredients til fluffy, add next two, stir to incorporate, add in flour 1 cup at a time - depending on weather you might need more or less flour... add 3 for sure and then more as needed to get a rolled out cookie dough texture. Roll about ¼ inch thick and cut out shapes or circles. Bake @ 400* for 6-7 minutes Frost with homemade butter cream tinted pink or canned frosting tinted pink... add sprinkles!

Update -- I was promised via Twitter that this recipe is the one.  Will try soon.