Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (Printable)
Tender, pillowy sugar cookies made with sour cream for ultimate softness, crowned with rich cream cheese frosting for a delightful dessert experience.
# What You Need:
→ Cookie Dough
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
→ Optional Decoration
15 - Sprinkles or colored sugar
# How-To:
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 until incorporated, then blend in sour cream and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until flour disappears. Do not overmix.
05 - Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight. Chilling is essential for proper texture and handling.
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 sheets 2 inches apart. Gently flatten to 1/2 inch thickness.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until cookies appear set and edges are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking for optimal softness.
09 - Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
10 - Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar until smooth. Add vanilla and milk as needed for spreadable consistency.
11 - Generously frost each completely cooled cookie. Add sprinkles or colored sugar if desired.
12 - Store frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sour cream creates an incredibly tender crumb that literally melts in your mouth
- These cookies stay soft for days, unlike typical sugar cookies that go hard
- The cream cheese frosting strikes that perfect balance between tangy and sweet
02 -
- Do not skip the chilling step or your cookies will spread too thin and lose that soft pillowy texture
- These cookies continue baking slightly on the hot baking sheet, so pull them out when they look slightly underdone
03 -
- Weigh your flour if possible, as too much flour will make these cookies dense instead of tender
- Room temperature ingredients incorporate better and create a more uniform texture