Soft No-Chill Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Naturally Dyed Pastel Buttercream
A quick and easy recipe for soft, buttery sugar cookies that require no chilling, topped with naturally dyed pastel buttercream frosting made from kitchen staples like beet juice, matcha, and turmeric.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- For the buttercream:
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3–4 cups (360-480g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–3 tablespoons whole milk or cream (or dairy-free alternative)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Natural coloring agents:
- Beet juice or powder for soft pink
- Matcha powder for pale green
- Turmeric powder for gentle yellow
- Blue spirulina powder for soft blue (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Cream 1 cup softened butter with 1 cup granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in the egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract until combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 ¾ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture on low speed until just combined.
- Drop dough balls about 1 ½ tablespoons each onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. No chilling required.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are just golden but centers still look soft.
- Let cookies rest on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- For the buttercream, beat 1 cup softened butter on medium speed until creamy.
- Gradually add 3-4 cups powdered sugar, alternating with 2-3 tablespoons milk, until spreadable consistency is reached.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Divide buttercream into small bowls and mix in natural dyes to create soft pastel shades.
- Spread or pipe the pastel buttercream over cooled cookies and let sit for 10-15 minutes to set before serving.
Notes
If dough feels too sticky, chill for 10 minutes but usually unnecessary. Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy for soft texture. Sift powdered sugar for silky buttercream. Start with small amounts of natural dye to avoid muddy colors. Watch baking time closely; cookies should look slightly underdone in center for soft texture. Frosting sets best after 10-15 minutes at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 5.5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 0.3
- Protein: 1.5
Keywords: soft sugar cookies, no chill dough, pastel buttercream, natural food coloring, easy sugar cookies, no chill sugar cookies, naturally dyed frosting, quick cookies