Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

These sour cream sugar cookies are amazingly soft and fluffy with a tender crumb that melts in your mouth. Thanks to sour cream in the dough, they carry a subtle tang that balances the sweetness, making each bite nostalgic and irresistible. Perfect for holiday baking, special occasions, or just an everyday treat, these cookies hold their shape well for decorating and stay soft for days.

The first time I baked these cookies, I was amazed by how tender and flavorful they turned out. Since then, they have become my go to sugar cookie recipe especially around the holidays because everyone loves the melt in your mouth texture and the nostalgic taste reminds me of family traditions.

Ingredients

• All purpose flour: Provides a sturdy base and structure for the dough
• Baking powder and baking soda: Work together to give the cookies a light and fluffy rise
• Salt: Enhances the sweetness and balances the flavors in every bite
• Unsalted butter: Brings richness and a tender crumb make sure it's softened for easy mixing
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps create a delicate texture
• Large egg: Binds the ingredients and adds moisture for softness
• Sour cream: Secret ingredient that adds moisture and a subtle tang for uniqueness
• Vanilla extract: Imparts warmth and enhances the overall flavor of the cookies
• Unsalted butter for frosting: At room temperature creates a creamy and smooth base
• Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting to a spreadable consistency
• Milk: Thins the frosting so you can adjust for your preferred texture
• Vanilla extract for frosting: Complements the cookies and adds flavor depth
• Optional food coloring: Lets you customize your frosting colors for festive looks
• Sprinkles: Add a fun and decorative touch to finished cookies

Instructions

Sift and Combine Dry Ingredients:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Setting this aside now will help you mix the dough smoothly later.

Cream Butter and Sugar:

In a large bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about two minutes and is essential to getting a tender cookie.

Add Wet Ingredients:

Beat in the egg, sour cream, and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth and uniform. The sour cream will add moisture and tang here, making your cookies extra soft.

Incorporate Dry Ingredients:

Gradually fold the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir just until combined. Avoid overmixing as this can lead to tougher cookies instead of tender ones.

Chill the Dough:

Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each into a flat disc. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour to firm up the dough. Chilling helps the cookies hold their shape during baking.

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets:

Heat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.

Roll and Cut Dough:

On a lightly floured surface, roll out your chilled dough to about a quarter inch thickness. Use cookie cutters of your choice to cut out shapes and transfer them gently to the prepared baking sheets.

Bake the Cookies:

Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are just starting to turn light golden brown. Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies soft.

Cool Completely:

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before moving them to wire racks to cool fully. Cookies should be completely cool before frosting.

Prepare the Frosting:

In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing until smooth and fluffy. Stir in vanilla extract and one to two tablespoons of milk until your frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. Adjust milk as needed.

Frosting Tint:

(Frosting can be tinted with food coloring if you want fun colors.)

Decorate Cookies:

Spread or pipe the frosting onto cooled cookies and add sprinkles or other decorations as desired. Let the frosting set at room temperature before storing.

Sour cream is my favorite ingredient for these cookies because it transforms a classic sugar cookie into something special with just a small tweak. The tang adds complexity to the sweetness without overpowering it. I remember making these with my family when I was little decorating the cookies brought everyone to the kitchen, laughter filled the room, and the aroma felt like a warm hug from grandma's kitchen.

Storage Tips

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them soft for up to 4 days. If you want to store longer, refrigerate for up to a week but bring them to room temperature before serving. Frosted cookies should be kept covered loosely to prevent the frosting from sticking to the container lid.

Ingredient Substitutions

For a lighter version you can use low fat sour cream although the cookies may be slightly less tender. If you don’t have unsalted butter, salted butter works just reduce added salt in the dough slightly. Vanilla extract can be swapped for almond or maple extract for a flavor twist. Milk can be replaced with any plant based milk for a dairy free option in the frosting.

Serving Suggestions

These cookies are fantastic with a cup of hot tea, coffee, or cold milk. Decorate with festive frosting and sprinkles for holidays, birthdays, or themed parties. Use cookie cutters to make shapes for any occasion hearts, stars, or seasonal designs.

These sour cream sugar cookies are a nostalgic treat that stay soft and taste amazing. They are perfect for decorating, gifting, or enjoying with a cup of tea or milk.

Common Recipe Questions

→ What type of sour cream is best to use?

Full-fat sour cream is preferred for the richest flavor and moist texture, though low-fat can be substituted with slight texture changes.

→ How do I keep the cookies soft for several days?

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their soft and tender crumb for days.

→ Can I use intricate cookie cutters with this dough?

Yes, chilling the dough before rolling makes it easier to cut and helps cookies hold detailed shapes during baking.

→ What ingredients contribute to the cookie’s fluffiness?

Baking soda and baking powder work together to provide a light, fluffy texture while the sour cream adds tenderness.

→ How should I handle the frosting for best results?

Allow cookies to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting, and adjust milk in frosting for the desired consistency.

→ Can I add flavors or decorations to these cookies?

Yes, options include almond or lemon extracts, food coloring in frosting, and sprinkles for a festive touch.