Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (Printable Version)
Tender sugar cookies with sour cream, topped with creamy frosting for holidays and celebrations.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cookies
01 - 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1/2 cup full-fat sour cream
09 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Cream Cheese Frosting
10 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
11 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
14 - 1-2 tablespoons milk for consistency
→ Decoration
15 - Sprinkles or colored sugar
# How to Make It:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Add the egg to the butter mixture, beating well. Mix in sour cream and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
05 - Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight for proper handling and texture.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheets 2 inches apart. Gently flatten each ball to 1/2 inch thickness.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until cookies appear set and edges are barely golden. Avoid overbaking for soft texture.
09 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
10 - Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract. Add milk as needed for spreadable consistency.
11 - Generously frost each completely cooled cookie. Add sprinkles or colored sugar if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These cookies stay incredibly soft for days thanks to the sour cream secret ingredient
- The cream cheese frosting transforms them into something that feels fancy but takes zero skill to make beautiful
02 -
- If your kitchen runs hot or you live in a warm climate, chill the dough for closer to 2 hours or the cookies will spread too much
- These are done when the centers look set but still slightly soft. They continue cooking on the hot baking sheet.
03 -
- Rotate your baking sheets halfway through baking if your oven has hot spots
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform size so they all bake at the same rate