American

Sprinkle-Splosion Sugar Cookies

March 31, 2022
5
3 Ratings
Photo by Bobbi Lin
  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 14 minutes
  • makes 32 cookies
Author Notes

My roll-out sugar cookies are delightfully soft, but boast a short (more crumbly) texture. This recipe is their chewy drop cookie cousin, packed with vanilla flavor and tons of sprinkles. Topped with a smear of buttercream, they are perfect for everything from birthdays to bake sales to lunchboxes to snacktime. Try piping the buttercream for an even fancier effect. —Erin Jeanne McDowell

Test Kitchen Notes

Bake It Up a Notch is a column by Resident Baking BFF Erin Jeanne McDowell. Each month, she'll help take our baking game to the next level, teaching us all the need-to-know tips and techniques and pointing out all the mistakes to avoid along the way. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Watch This Recipe
Sprinkle-Splosion Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks / 340 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (113 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/2 cup (99 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (106 g) light brown sugar
  • 1 large (56 g) egg, at room temperature
  • 1 large (21 g) egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 3/4 cups (450 g) all purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 cup (65 g) sprinkles, preferably confetti style, plus more for finishing
  • 1 recipe Italian Buttercream (https://food52.com/recipes...)
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C with the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the egg and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl well.
  3. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and mix well on medium speed until evenly incorporated. Scrape the bowl well.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt to combine. Add about half of this mixture to the mixer and pulse on low speed to incorporate the flour, then mix on low speed to combine. Repeat with the remaining flour.
  5. Add the sprinkles and mix on low speed just until evenly dispersed.
  6. Scoop the cookie dough into 2 tablespoon sized rounds and place onto the prepared baking sheets. Stagger the rows of cookies as you place them, and leave 2 inches/5 cm between each cookie to allow room for spreading. Use your fingers to gently press each mound of dough to flatten slightly.
  7. Transfer to the oven and bake until the cookies have spread and are very lightly browned around the lower edge, 12 to 14 minutes (for a softer cookie, bake for 10 to 12 minutes and remove before you see much browning). Rotate the trays halfway through baking.
  8. Cool completely on the baking sheet, then frost with buttercream and garnish with more sprinkles.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

I always have three kinds of hot sauce in my purse. I have a soft spot for making people their favorite dessert, especially if it's wrapped in a pastry crust. My newest cookbook, Savory Baking, came out in Fall of 2022 - is full of recipes to translate a love of baking into recipes for breakfast, dinner, and everything in between!

1 Review

ksabow April 11, 2022
I made these cookies and gave them to four different people....everyone raved about them. I have to admit, one of the best cookies ever. Not sure what made them so good but the delicious buttercream on top certainly didn't hurt.