Do you ever crave those soft, sweet sugar cookies from your favorite fast food chain? Wendy’s may be best known for their juicy burgers and frostys, but their classic sugar cookies have amassed a fanbase of their own. These melt-in-your-mouth cookies strike the perfect balance of crispy edges with a chewy center.
Today, we’ll be showing you how to recreate Wendy’s signature sugar cookies right in your own kitchen using simple pantry ingredients. Read on for the full recipe plus extra tips for decorating, storing and savoring these irresistible treats.
Why We Love Wendy’s Style Sugar Cookies
Wendy’s sugar cookies have reached an almost legendary status in the world of fast food desserts. Customers just can’t seem to get enough of their caramelized exterior giving way to a perfectly dense and doughy interior. Each scrumptious bite transports us back childhood trips for frostys and fries.
We love that these cookies utilize simple ingredients most households regularly stock in their kitchens. You likely already have everything you need to bake up a fresh batch. They come together quickly too, with just a single bowl needed for mixing.
While Wendy’s keeps their exact sugar cookie recipe tightly guarded, homemade versions get us close to the sweet original. Baking them yourself means enjoying warm, fresh-from-the-oven cookies any time a craving strikes. Talk about a treat!
Let’s get into the easy how-to so you can start enjoying these copycat cookies now.
How to Make Copycat Wendy’s Sugar Cookies
Whipping up these Wendy’s inspired sugar cookies takes just about 30 minutes from start to finish. We’ll walk through the straightforward prep work, baking, cooling and decorating steps:
Ingredients Needed
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1⁄2 cup baking soda
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
Kitchen Tools
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a few baking sheets with parchment paper. The cookies won’t stick to it as they bake.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and sugar until light yellow and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Mix in one egg at a time, ensuring each fully incorporates before adding the other. Blend in the vanilla extract too.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the baking soda and salt. Gradually add the baking soda mixture to the creamed butter. Mix just until combined, about 1 minute.
- Slowly mix the all-purpose flour into the cookie dough, 1 cup at a time, until a thick dough forms that pulls away from the bowl sides. *This recipe works best with chilled dough, so cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes if you have time.
- Lightly flour a work surface. Pull the chilled dough from the fridge, plop it onto the counter and roll into 11⁄2 inch balls. *Make sure to roll firmly so there are no cracks in the dough balls.
- Space dough balls, 20 to a sheet, evenly across the prepared baking pans.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, checking frequently near the end, until the rims turn light golden brown but the tops still look pale and matte.
- Allow cookies to cool and set on sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Warm cookies are super delicate!
Dig right into these delicious homemade sugar cookies or let them finish cooling before frosting and decorating.
Tips for Decorating Your Wendy’s Style Sugar Cookies
The simplicity of these sugar cookies makes them perfect for customizing however you please. Have fun getting creative with different frostings and colorful decorations:
- Glaze or drizzle with vanilla frosting: For quick and easy embellishing, make a simple powdered sugar glaze by whisking powdered sugar with milk or cream until pourable. Spoon over warm cookies or let frosted ones set in the fridge.
- Coat in sprinkles or sanding sugar: For fun texture and flavor, dip one side of frosted cookies into rainbow sprinkles, nonpareils or sanding sugar. Set them decorations-side-up as you go.
- Decorate faces with candy: Use mini chocolate chips, M&M’s, jelly beans and licorice for quirky cookie faces. Attempt different expressions on each one. Let kids help with this step!
- Refrigerate icing decorated cookies: If piping intricate royal icing designs, let your sugary masterpieces firm up in the fridge before gifting or devouring. The icing keeps and sets better chilled.
Feel free to dream up your own signature looks too. Unleash your inner artist!
Storing and Reheating Tips for Leftover Cookies
We know – you made multiple cookie batches hoping to have leftovers. Luckily, Wendy’s style sugar cookies happen to freeze and reheat wonderfully for up to 3 months.
Follow these storage steps:
- Cool cookies completely before freezing: Never freeze warm baked goods! Allow cookies to fully cool to avoid condensation and sogginess issues.
- Store cookies in airtight containers: Use food storage containers or freezer bags to prevent ice crystals forming. Press out excess air before sealing.
- Label containers with cookie variety and date: Freezer mystery items happen. Label your cookies’ prep date for future reference.
- Freeze undecorated cookies: Save the frosting for post-thaw application. Iced cookies turn hard in the freezer.
- Thaw cookies completely before eating: Let your cookies come to room temp before eating for ideal texture.
- Refresh thawed cookies in a 300°F oven: Reheat plain thawed cookies for 5 minutes if you desire a slightly warm, crisp cookie again.
Taking steps to properly store and reheat your Wendy’s copycat cookies ensures they’ll taste freshly baked every time you indulge!
How Does It Taste Like?
These homemade Wendy’s sugar cookies offer the quintessential combination of crispy outer edges surrounding a perfectly chewy and dense center. Each warm, buttery bite delights the senses with notes of vanilla and caramelized sugar. The cookies melt smoothly over your tongue, with the subtle crunch of the crust contrasting the doughy interior. Every element blends in sweet harmony, recreating that classic quick-service restaurant cookie we all crave. These copycats 100 percent satisfy!
FAQs About Making Wendy’s Style Sugar Cookies
Have lingering questions about whipping up platters full of these irresistible sugar cookies at home? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What kind of sugar is best for rolling and cutting out cookie dough?
Use regular granulated sugar in the dough itself for the ideal texture. Save the coarse decorating sugars for the topping and decorating steps only.
Can I freeze the unbaked cookie dough too?
Absolutely! Portion scoops of dough on a parchment-lined pan and freeze until solid. Transfer frozen mounds to a labeled freezer bag. Bake frozen dough a minute or two longer when ready to enjoy.
How long do decorated cookies last at room temperature?
Plan to enjoy piped icing and heavily decorated cookies within 3-5 days. The embellishments cause faster moisture loss. Plain cookies can last 7-10 days stored at room temp in an airtight container.
What’s the ideal cookie sheet for these recipes?
Opt for light-colored aluminum or stainless steel baking pans. They allow even browning. Line them with parchment paper too for easy release. Dark metal pans can over-brown cookie bottoms.
Can I make cookie cake versions of this recipe?
Yes! Just press all the dough into one large greased cake pan instead of forming individual dough balls. Bake, cool completely, finish decorating and slice into shard shapes right from the pan.
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out for any other sugar cookie or baking tips!
Wendy's Sugar Cookie Recipe
Craving the sweet, delicious taste of Wendy's signature sugar cookies? Discover how to bake copycat versions with our easy homemade recipe and step-by-step instructions. Make them now!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1⁄2 cup baking soda
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
Kitchen Tools
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheets
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Parchment paper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a few baking sheets with parchment paper. The cookies won’t stick to it as they bake.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and sugar until light yellow and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Mix in one egg at a time, ensuring each fully incorporates before adding the other. Blend in the vanilla extract too.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the baking soda and salt. Gradually add the baking soda mixture to the creamed butter. Mix just until combined, about 1 minute.
- Slowly mix the all-purpose flour into the cookie dough, 1 cup at a time, until a thick dough forms that pulls away from the bowl sides. *This recipe works best with chilled dough, so cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes if you have time.
- Lightly flour a work surface. Pull the chilled dough from the fridge, plop it onto the counter and roll into 11⁄2 inch balls. *Make sure to roll firmly so there are no cracks in the dough balls.
- Space dough balls, 20 to a sheet, evenly across the prepared baking pans.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, checking frequently near the end, until the rims turn light golden brown but the tops still look pale and matte.
- Allow cookies to cool and set on sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Warm cookies are super delicate!
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Today
Now you’re all set to become head sugar cookie baker with this easy Wendy’s copycat recipe! Get ready for the compliments to come flooding in as you share trays loaded with these delightfully soft and chewy treats.
We love being able to recreate this iconic fast food chains’ signature sweet in our own kitchens whenever the cravings strike. From the balancing hints of salt and crisp exterior to that textbook tender center, these sugar cookies are everything we adore about the Wendy’s original.
Whip up a fresh batch today for enjoying with family, for holiday cookie swaps or even as thoughtful edible gifts. A warm cookie and cold glass of milk anytime is sure to ignite nostalgia in just about anyone. Once they get a taste, prepare for requests. Happy baking!
