Gluten-Free Lofthouse Cookies

Name: Lofthouse Cookies
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 1 h 33 min
Yield: 1 Dozen
Ingredients: 1/4 c. unsalted butter, room temperature; 3 Tbsp. vegetable shortening (Crisco); 2 Tbsp. cream cheese, room temperature; 3/4 c. powdered sugar; 1/2 tsp. vanilla; 1/8 tsp. almond extract; 1 large egg, room temperature; 1 1/4 c. gluten-free flour blend (I use King Arthur for this recipe); 1/4 c. cornstarch; 1/2 tsp. baking soda; 1/2 tsp. baking powder; 1/4 tsp. salt; 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar; 1/4 c. unsalted butter, room temperature; 1/4 c. vegetable shortening (Crisco); 1/2 lb. powdered sugar (about 2 c.); 1/2 tsp. vanilla; 1 Tbsp. milk; Pinch of salt

Desserts

Jun 11

Written By Kali Terry

Post Published June. 11, 2026

There are certain grocery store treats that instantly transport you back to childhood, and for me, those soft, frosted Lofthouse cookies sit right at the top of the list. You know the ones—the pillowy sugar cookies topped with a thick layer of pastel frosting and a shower of sprinkles that somehow always ended up in the shopping cart whether they were on the list or not.

For years after going gluten-free, I assumed those nostalgic cookies were firmly in the "remember them fondly but never eat them again" category. Plenty of gluten-free sugar cookies are good, but very few nail that signature Lofthouse texture: impossibly soft, slightly cakey, and practically melting in your mouth.

Then these cookies happened.

And now I can confidently say that not only do they scratch the Lofthouse itch, but they might actually be better.

Jump to Recipe

The Quest for the Perfect Soft Cookie

I've made a lot of gluten-free cookies over the years. Some turned out great. Some turned out...educational.

There were cookies that spread into one giant cookie continent. Cookies that were somehow both dry and gummy at the same time. Cookies that could probably have doubled as hockey pucks in an emergency. Let’s just say there are DEFINITELY trial and errors, lol.

These, thankfully, are none of those things.

The combination of butter, shortening, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and just the right balance of leavening creates a cookie that's incredibly soft and tender. The cornstarch and cream of tartar helps give them that bakery-style texture.

The result is exactly what I hoped for: a gluten-free cookie that feels like the real thing.

They're soft for days, topped with a rich vanilla frosting, and have that classic bakery-style look that makes people immediately reach for one. The best part? Nobody ever guesses they're gluten-free.

What Makes These Cookies So Good?

A few little ingredients do some heavy lifting here:

Cream cheese adds richness and helps keep the cookies soft.
Cornstarch and cream of tartar create that delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
A tiny bit of almond extract gives them that classic Lofthouse flavor.
Powdered sugar in the dough contributes to the soft, cakey consistency.
Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape while baking, so no flat cookies here!

It's one of those recipes where every ingredient seems to have a purpose, and together they create cookie magic.

The Frosting Is Half the Experience

Can we talk about the frosting for a second?

Because let's be honest: nobody eats a Lofthouse cookie for restraint. And this frosting? 1,000,000x better.

This frosting is soft, fluffy, buttery, and sweet in exactly the way a frosted sugar cookie should be. It's the kind of frosting that makes you "accidentally" swipe a spoon through the bowl multiple times during decorating.

For quality control purposes, obviously.

A little food coloring turns these into the perfect cookie for birthdays, holidays, baby showers, and bake sales.

My Favorite Twist: Viral Dot Cake Cookies

Recently, I decided to borrow an idea from the viral dot cakes that have been taking over social media.

Instead of sprinkling the tops with traditional jimmies, I pressed some of the freshly frosted cookies directly into a bowl of rainbow nonpareils.

And wow.

Not only do they look absolutely adorable, but the colorful dots create the same playful look that made those cakes so popular. The nonpareils add a bit of crunch against the soft frosting and pillowy cookie underneath, which makes every bite even more fun.

I only decorated some of the batch this way because I wanted a mix of classic and dot cake-inspired cookies, but next time I honestly might do all of them. They're that cute.

If you're making these for a party, I highly recommend trying both versions. The traditional sprinkled cookies bring the nostalgia, while the rainbow nonpareil version gets everyone saying, "OH MY GOD THEY’RE LIKE THOSE CAKES ON TIKTOK-".

I can attest that my other daughter responded this way ⬆︎

Let the baking begin!

TIPS AND TRICKS:

- Always preheat your oven.

- All refrigerated ingredients should be room temperature unless stated otherwise.

- I flattened the cookies down to be about 1 ½ inches wide before baking if we wanna get into specifics, but pressing the tops down slightly without being tediously accurate will get the job done.

-Be sure to let the cookies cool completely before making the frosting.

-Be sure to apply the sprinkles right after you spread the frosting on to ensure they stick. The same thing goes for the nonpareils.

-The cookies are even more delicious after letting them sit for a few hours with the frosting!

If you've been missing those iconic frosted grocery store cookies, this recipe deserves a spot on your baking list.

They're soft, sweet, nostalgic, and surprisingly easy to make. Whether you decorate them with classic sprinkles, pastel frosting, holiday colors, or the viral dot cake-inspired rainbow nonpareil coating, they're guaranteed to disappear quickly.

Fair warning, though: once you realize you can make these Gluten-Free Lofthouse Cookies whenever you want, a dangerous amount of power has been placed in your hands.

Use it responsibly.

Or don't.

There are cookies involved, after all.