Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (Printable Version)
Tender sour cream sugar cookies with rich cream cheese frosting for melt-in-your-mouth goodness perfect for any celebration.
# 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)
# 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 egg to the butter mixture and beat 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 to maintain tender texture.
05 - Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour or overnight. Chilling prevents spreading and enhances texture.
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 gently to 1/2 inch thickness.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until set and edges are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking for optimal softness.
09 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack. Cool completely before frosting.
10 - Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beat until smooth. Mix in vanilla and adjust consistency with milk as needed.
11 - Frost cooled cookies generously. Add sprinkles or colored sugar immediately if desired. Store refrigerated in airtight container up to 5 days.
# Expert Insights:
01 -
- The sour cream creates an impossibly tender crumb that literally melts in your mouth, unlike any other sugar cookie you've tried
- These cookies stay soft for days, making them perfect for gift boxes or holiday plates that need to sit out
- The dough is incredibly forgiving and can be made ahead, frozen, or baked whenever the craving strikes
02 -
- The dough chilling time is not optional, I once tried skipping it and ended up with flat, spread out cookies
- Room temperature ingredients blend together properly, cold butter won't cream and cold egg won't incorporate evenly
- These cookies continue cooking slightly on the hot baking sheet, so pull them out when they look slightly underdone
03 -
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform size and even baking
- Rotate your baking sheets halfway through for consistent results