Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (Printable version)
Tender sugar cookies with sour cream for extra softness, crowned with creamy cream cheese frosting.
# 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, optional
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
02 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Mix in the egg, followed by sour cream and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing only until just combined.
05 - Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for improved 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 on prepared baking sheets 2 inches apart. Flatten gently to 1/2 inch thickness.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until set with lightly golden edges. Avoid overbaking for soft texture.
09 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until smooth. Stir in vanilla and adjust consistency with milk as needed.
11 - Frost completely cooled cookies generously. Add sprinkles or colored sugar if desired.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- The sour cream creates this incredible tenderness that regular sugar cookies just cant match
- They stay soft for days, unlike those disappointing rock hard cookies you find in coffee shops
02 -
- I skipped the chilling step once and ended up with sad flat cookies that spread everywhere, so do not skip it
- Room temperature ingredients make a huge difference in how smoothly everything comes together
03 -
- Add a drop of almond extract to the frosting for a bakery style flavor twist that everyone asks about
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform sizes so they all bake at the same rate