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    Home » Dessert » Best Sour Cream Cookies

    Published: Feb 15, 2023 by Desarae

    Best Sour Cream Cookies

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    If you love sugar cookies then these sour cream cookies are going to be your new favorite. Soft, fluffy and super easy you will be making this for every holiday and just because.

    Sour Cream cookies with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles.

    Why You Will Love This Sugar Cookie Recipe

    Every time we make these they are devoured in seconds. They are a huge fan favorite.

    1. Make cut outs or simple round cookies.
    2. Frost them with buttercream, royal icing, or cream cheese frosting.
    3. It makes enough to share! Perfect for friends, family and neighbors to all enjoy.

    Ingredients for Sour Cream Cookies

    Bowls of ingredients for sugar cookies on a tray.
    • SUGAR
    • SHORTENING- this is a must, this helps keep them fluffy.
    • SOUR CREAM- the secret ingredient! makes them super moist.
    • NUTMEG adds just a hint of depth to the flavor of these cookies.

    Can I substitute the shortening?

    There are substitutions for the shortening, HOWEVER shortening is used for a specific reason in cookies especially. Shortening in cookies makes the cookies fluffy and flakey. If you substitute it for butter or oil the cookies will be more flat and dense. These are not the most wanted qualities you want for sugar cookies, but you can try substituting it with butter.

    How to make these sour cream sugar cookies

    Process photos of the ingredients being added into the bowl and mixed.
    • Add room temp butter, shortening, eggs and sugar into a large bowl.
    • Cream it together so its nice a fluffy.
    • Slowly add in your dry ingredients and sour cream while mixing.
    • Form your dough into two balls, COVER with plastic wrap and place in fridge for at least 2 hours

    Why Is There Sour Cream in Sugar Cookies?

    The sour cream in these sugar cookies add a delicious flavor but more importantly it makes this cookies ultra moist. SO GOOD.

    Do I Have To Chill The Dough?

    If you are doing sugar cookie cut outs then chill the dough. If you are rolling them into simple circle cookies then you can immediately cook. If forming any shape :

    CHILLING THE DOUGH DOES 2 THINGS

    1. Chilling the dough helps with handling the cookies so they are not too sticky and much more easier to handle- to roll out and transfer to the cookie sheet.
    2. if you want your cutouts to be perfect the cold dough helps them to keep their shape. Even after you have cut them out place them into the freezer for 10 minutes and they will keep their form so much better while cookie.
    Wrapping two balls of dough in sera wrap to chill.

    Can I use this recipe to make copycat swig cookies!?

    YES! I've made them as "copycat swig cookies" and everyone "loves them better than swig" !! true story. I love making them this way becuase they're so easy, fast and the perfect fluffy thickness. Simply take your chilled dough and roll it into 1 inch balls.

    1. Take a glass cup and spray the bottom with cooking spray
    2. dip in granulated sugar
    3. Press down on the ball of dough and slightly twist.
    4. repeat for other cookies.
    Rolled balls on cookie sheet bottom of cup pressing down to flatten them.

    How to make sugar cookie cut outs

    If you are using this dough to make sugar cookie cutouts here are the steps:

    1. still CHIILL THE DOUGH
    2. flour your surface
    3. roll the dough on to the flour surface keep it ½ inch thick
    4. cut out your cookies into their shapes using cooking cutters
    5. place on cookie sheet and bake.
    Four photos showing rolling out cookie dough onto baking tray.

    Don't Over Bake Your Sour Cream Cookies

    Don't Overcook!

    Just be careful not to overcook them! right? Isn't that always the trick with sugar cookies? If you wait till they are golden brown and look like your typical chocolate chip cookie you have  cooked them too long.  Keep an eye on them in the oven and be sure to remove them before they have browned. You want to remove them just when they're set.

    Sugar cookie cut outs on marble counter.

    Frosting your sour cream sugar cookies?

    You can use your favorite frosting with sugar cookies when they have cooled. If you are making basic buttercream frosting try adding a few drops of almond extract for flavor. IT IS THE BOMB!

    Beater with buttercream frosting on it.

    Frosting Recipe

    • BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
    • CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
    • ROYAL ICING
    • CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER MAPLE FROSTING
    • Add crushed peppermint and peppermint extract for a holiday twist!

    FAQ's

    How do I make the cookies not stick to the pan?

    Before baking you can do a few things, 1. spray with a non-stick spray. 2. Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

    I don't have two hours to chill my dough do you have a shortcut?

    Place them in the freezer for 10-30 minutes.

    How many cookies does this recipe make?

    it depends on the size of your cookie cutters. I used fairly large cookies and got about 20-24 cookies from the dough.

    Can I freeze already baked cookies?

    yes! It's best to freeze them before you frost. Make sure you wrap them in an air tight container or plastic wrap to keep out any frost bite or smells in the fridge.

    Winter themed sugar cookies with white frosting and chunky sprinkle sugar.

    Looking for other cookie recipes?

    TRY THESE!

    • soft snickerdoodle cookies
    • beacon hill cookies 
    • soft molasses cookies
    Sour Cream cookies with pink frosting and sprinkles.

    Let's Be Friends!

    If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave us a comment below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to see what else we’re getting up to!  And don’t forget to pin this recipe to save for later.

    Sour Cream Cookies

    Perfect, soft, flakey, and chewy sugar cookies. This recipe always comes out perfect whether your cookies are thick or thin.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 minutes
    Total Time: 21 minutes
    Servings: 24 cookies
    Calories: 298kcal
    Author: Kadee & Desarae

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup shortening
    • ¼ cup Butter
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 ⅔ cups flour + more for surface
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ½ cup sour cream

    BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

    • 1 cup room temperature butter
    • 4+ cups powdered sugar*
    • 3 teaspoon vanilla
    • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
    • 3-4 Tablespoons of Evaporated Milk can use milk

    Instructions

    Cookies

    • Mix shortening and butter, sugar, egg and vanilla thoroughly.
    • Blend in remaining ingredients. Divide dough, cover, and chill for a two hours up to overnight.
    • FOR "SWIG COOKIES" roll into 1 inch balls. With a glass cup spray with cooking spray dip in granulated sugar and gently press while slowly twisting. Lift slow.
      FOR CUTOUTS: Roll out on floured surface, about ¼-1/2 inch thick. It takes some more kneading and rolling to get the dough to a stiff but pliable state.
    • Cut into desired shapes and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake in pre-heated oven at 350º F for 6-8 minutes for cut outs. 10-12 for swig style cookies

    Frosting

    • Beat butter on medium speed for and slow add in sugar, vanilla. Turn mixer back to medium speed and add milk one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
    • If frosting is too thin, add powdered sugar to stiffen back up. Add more milk to thin.
    • Add food coloring if desired.

    Video

    Notes

    May be dropped by spoonfuls on cookie sheet and flattened with a glass which has been dipped in sugar. Bake 10-12 minutes for this method.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 335IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sylvia deWolde says

      December 21, 2022 at 10:01 am

      5 stars
      Just made these last night for our annual cookie decorating with my friend and our kids. They turned out great! I didn’t have them in the fridge for the full two hours so I popped the wrapped balls in the freezer for a bit to firm them up and they were quite easy to work with! They turned out so fluffy and we loved them! Thank you for this great recipe!!

      Reply
    2. Emily Kemp says

      August 14, 2018 at 3:46 am

      5 stars
      These are the cutest holiday cookies I've seen, can't wait to make them!

      Reply

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