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How to make perfect sugar cookies:
- Chill the dough! I know, I know, waiting is hard – but trust me, chilling your sugar cookie dough will make it so much easier to roll out and cut using cookie cutters.
- Don’t forget the flour! Flouring your kitchen counters, hands, rolling pin, lifter, spatula, and cookie cutters will ensure your cookies have the perfect shape because the dough won’t stick to your kitchen tools. And pulling or sticking with cause the cookies to change shape, and nobody wants a lopsided sugar cookie!
- Don’t overbake! Bake only until the cookies just lose their shine on top. Any browning on the bottom or around the edges means they’re overbaked.
- Cool them on the pan! Transferring the cookies to a wire rack right after you remove them from the oven can cause them to lose their shape. Always give cookies 5 minutes to cool on the pan without moving them to help them finish the baking process and hold their shape.
Looking for more delicious sugar cookies? You’ll LOVE these Easy Soft and Chewy Frosted Lofthouse-Style Sugar Cookies!
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KITCHEN PRODUCTS I RECOMMEND:
Looking for even more delicious cookie recipes? You’ll LOVE these:
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Mini Eggs Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookie Bars
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Best Ever Ginger Molasses Cookies
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Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies
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Double Chocolate S’Mores Cookies
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Best Ever Monster Cookies
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Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Soft and Chewy Red Velvet Sugar Cookies
RECIPE VIDEO
Watch the video below to see exactly how I make this recipe. You can find more delicious recipe videos on my YouTube channel.Classic Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
These Classic Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are the perfect old fashioned treat! With simple instructions for the perfect soft & chewy sugar cookies every time!
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Servings: 40 cookies
Calories: 225kcal
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups white sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 cups flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the frosting:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar plus 1/2 cup, if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons heavy cream plus 2 teaspoons, if needed
- food colouring and sprinkles, if desired
Instructions
For the cookies:
- In the bowl of your stand mixer or in a large bowl using your hand mixer, mix the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
- Add the sugar and mix on medium-high until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing on medium speed until well incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
- Add the sour cream and vanilla and mix on low speed until combined.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix on low speed until a soft dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough for at least 2 hours. Ideally, overnight is best.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit after the dough has chilled sufficiently.
- Scrape the dough out onto a well floured surface and roll it out until it's about 1/2 inch thick. Be sure to flour your surface well, along with your hands and your rolling pin to prevent sticking.
- Flour a heart-shaped cookie cutter (or any shape you wish) and cut out the cookies, placing them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. This recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies, so repeat this rolling out process until all the cookies have been cut.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 7-9 minutes, or just until the cookies lose their shine on top and appear slightly puffy.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let cool on the baking pans for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the frosting:
- Whip the butter on high speed until fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and mix on medium speed until incorporated. Add the extra 1/2 cup of powdered sugar if your frosting seems too fluid. This will depend on the texture of the butter you used.
- Add the heavy cream and mix on medium speed until well incorporated, adding the additional heavy cream if needed to reach a spreadable consistency.
- Colour your frosting with food colouring if desired, spread onto the completely cooled cookies with a butter knife or offset spatula, and top with sprinkles!
Notes
Store these cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 days, with sheets of wax or parchment paper between the layers to prevent the cookies from sticking.
These cookies freeze well before they're frosted, so feel free to make the cookies ahead of time and freeze them, thawing and frosting them right before serving.
This recipe makes between 3 and 4 dozen cookies, depending on the size you make them.Â
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 305IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @busybakerblog or tag #busybaker!
Krysta says
This is a family favourite all year round! But especially at Christmas time with fun bright coloured icing! It’s always the first thing to disappear on a cookie tray too!
Chrissie says
Absolutely! 🙂
Demeter says
These are always a winning treat! So perfect for the holiday and easy to change up to use all through the year.
Chrissie says
Thanks! We agree!!
Catalina says
These cookies look divine! My kid will go crazy over these!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks so much!
Abeer says
These look absolutely amazing! I wish I had some right now!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks! I hope you give them a try!
Steph says
I never thought to add sour cream to sugar cookies but it really brings out the flavor! Love it!
The Busy Baker says
So glad you love it! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment! 🙂
Mahy Elamin says
Oh my goodness 😱. Thank you for this recipe!! They are so SUPER easy to make and taste incredible! Thank you thank you!!
The Busy Baker says
So glad you love them as much as we do! Thanks for the positive feedback!
Cheryl S says
Thanks for such a fabulous recipe!! These are always a hit!
Chrissie says
Thanks so much!
Melanie Bauer says
They look heavenly! I’m totally drooling over this goodness, need to try this!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks! 🙂
Katerina @ diethood .com says
Oh my Gosh, these are SUPER cute!! My kids would LOVE them!
The Busy Baker says
I know, right!? What’s not to love!? I hope you give it a try!
Allyson Zea says
So great for Valentine’s Day! I love making theses and giving them to all my friends!
The Busy Baker says
So glad you like this recipe!
Taylor says
These are SO cute and the perfect treat for Valentine’s!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks! 🙂
Krista says
These cookies look so good! I have to bake them up!
The Busy Baker says
Thank you! 🙂
Melanie Bauer says
Looks heavenly! So simple yet incredibly delicious and it’s just perfect for holiday, need to make this!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks!
Allison says
The perfect sugar cookie! My kids love, love, love these!
The Busy Baker says
So glad they enjoyed them! Thanks for the positive feedback!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
These look so fun and tasty! I’m loving the looks of these!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks so much!
Jessica | The Novice Chef says
Gimme homemade sugar cookies any day!!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks for your comment.
Katie says
This dough is absolutely terrible to work work. I separated the dough into 4 different portions so it would chill faster and chilled for 2 hours. I floured everything GENEROUSLY and it still stuck. I even tried rolling it out on well floured parchment paper to see if it helped and no luck. We got one batch of just okay looking cookies before I gave up and put it back in the friedge. I might try again tomorrow but I might just pitch the whole batch.
Chrissie says
If you floured everything generously, then this should not have happened. Without flouring surfaces, this dough is VERY sticky (which is because of the sour cream, but it creates a super soft cookie), but if you flour everything very well (including the ball of dough itself), it should roll out well. I’m sorry you had this experience!
Nana says
Works best if chilled overnight. We love these cookies iced with lemon icing. And they must be stored in airtight container.
Sam says
I thought it tasted a little bland for the effort that was involved, unfortunately.
Chrissie says
Thanks for your feedback.
Kellycampbell says
The best recipe always turns out great cookies
The Busy Baker says
Thanks so much Kelly!!