Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (Printable Version)
Tender, pillowy cookies enriched with sour cream and topped with luscious cream cheese frosting for a melt-in-your-mouth experience.
# What You 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 (optional)
# Directions:
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 egg to the butter mixture, beating well. Mix in sour cream and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing for tender cookies.
05 - Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight for optimal texture and handling.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough, roll into balls, and place 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Flatten to 1/2 inch thickness.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until 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. Mix in vanilla and add milk as needed for spreadable consistency.
11 - Generously frost cooled cookies and add sprinkles or colored sugar if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sour cream creates an incredibly tender crumb that literally melts in your mouth
- These cookies stay soft for days, unlike traditional sugar cookies that can turn hard
- The cream cheese frosting strikes that perfect balance between tangy and sweet
02 -
- Chilling the dough is nonnegotiable if you want thick, soft cookies instead of flat, crispy ones
- Overbaking is the enemy here pull them out when the centers still look slightly underdone
- The frosting must be applied to completely cool cookies or it will melt right off
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients mix together more evenly and prevent dense cookies
- Sifting powdered sugar might feel fussy but it's the difference between silky and gritty frosting