Pillowy Soft Sour Cream Cookies

Get ready to discover the secret to the most incredible holiday cookies you’ve ever tasted! These aren’t just any sugar cookies; they are truly bakery-style masterpieces: perfectly pillowy soft, delicately sweetened, and featuring a subtle tang from sour cream that sets them apart. Lavishly adorned with a luscious, velvety buttercream frosting, these Best Soft Sour Cream Cookies are an absolute dream come true and promise to be the undisputed champions of your festive baking.

If you’re a fan of unique and delicious cookie recipes, you’ll also adore our Easy Melted Snowman Cookies, these comforting Soft Almond Cookies with Almond Buttercream, and for a touch of seasonal mischief, don’t miss these fun Grinch Sugar Cookies. Each recipe offers a delightful way to celebrate and share joy during the festive season.

The first encounter with these heavenly sour cream sugar cookies left an indelible mark on my memory. Just a few years ago, my wonderful best friend, Stacey, introduced me to them, and from the very first bite, I was utterly captivated. It was one of those rare moments where each cookie led to another, and another, and before I knew it, a small mountain of cookies had vanished! They truly possess an irresistible quality that makes them melt in your mouth, leaving you craving more of their tender, tangy sweetness.

This delicious cookie recipe is nothing short of a culinary gem, and I’m eternally grateful to Stacey for sharing it with me. Her generosity means I can now share this treasured creation with all of you! It feels like one of those timeless family recipes, destined to be cherished, added to your personal baking repertoire, and lovingly passed down through generations. These are the cookies that create lasting memories and become a staple in your home.

The lineage of this incredible recipe traces back to Stacey’s sister, Merla, who has been perfecting these cookies since Stacey was a child. Stacey vividly recalls constantly begging Merla to bake them. Eventually, she learned to make them herself, breaking the cycle of playful annoyance. Now, I understand completely – it’s a delightful chain reaction of irresistible deliciousness!

Why These Soft Sour Cream Cookies Will Steal Your Heart

Prepare to fall in love with these exceptional sour cream cookies! They offer a unique blend of flavors and textures that elevate them far beyond a standard sugar cookie. Here’s why they’re destined to become a beloved staple in your kitchen:

• A Symphony of Sweet and Tangy Flavors: If you crave a treat that perfectly balances sweetness with a subtle, delightful tang, these cookies are for you. The sour cream introduces a nuanced flavor that brightens the sweetness, creating an incredibly satisfying taste profile that truly melts in your mouth.
• Unmatched Creamy, Soft, and Chewy Texture: Unlike many traditional sugar cookies that can be dry or crumbly, these sour cream cookies boast an incredibly tender, pillowy soft, and slightly chewy texture. The addition of sour cream lends an exceptional moisture and richness that makes them truly irresistible. Many people, once they try these, prefer them over conventional sugar cookies for their superior texture and depth of flavor.
• Perfect for Every Occasion: Whether you’re preparing for a festive holiday gathering, a casual party with friends, a special birthday celebration, or simply seeking a comforting everyday treat, these sour cream cookies fit the bill. Their timeless appeal and delicious taste make them suitable for any event, bringing smiles to faces young and old.
• Universally Loved by All Ages: These cookies have a magical ability to delight everyone! Both children and adults are enchanted by their soft texture and delectable flavor, making them a fantastic choice for family recipes that everyone can agree on. Be prepared for requests for more!
• Adaptable to Your Schedule and Skill Level: This recipe offers wonderful flexibility. You can go all out with homemade frosting and intricate decorations, or utilize clever shortcuts like pre-made frosting bags for quicker preparation. We’ll share tips and variations to ensure success, whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out.

Essential Ingredients for Your Baking Adventure

Crafting these heavenly cookies requires a few simple ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving their signature taste and texture. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

For the Irresistible Sour Cream Cookies:

• Shortening: Crucial for achieving that melt-in-your-mouth tender crumb.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides the perfect level of sweetness without overpowering the subtle tang.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and contribute to the cookie’s structure and richness.
• Sour Cream: The star ingredient, adding moisture, tenderness, and that signature tangy note.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors with its warm, aromatic notes.
• All-Purpose Flour: The structural foundation of our cookies.
• Baking Soda & Baking Powder: The leavening agents that give these cookies their wonderful lift and soft texture.
• Salt: A pinch to balance the sweetness and bring out the full depth of flavor.

For the Velvety Buttercream Frosting:

• Softened Butter: The base for our rich, creamy frosting. Ensure it’s at room temperature for easy blending.
• Powdered Sugar: Gives the frosting its smooth texture and sweetness.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth of flavor to the buttercream.
• Milk: Adjusts the consistency of the frosting to your preference.
• Optional: Gel Food Coloring for beautifully tinted frosting to match any theme or holiday.

Quick Frosting Tip: For an incredibly easy frosting option, you can use 2-3 Pillsbury™ Filled Pastry Bags of Vanilla or Cream Cheese Frosting, or even prepared frosting from tubs. However, for the ultimate flavor and texture, nothing beats homemade buttercream!

Dazzling Decorative Accessories:

• Sprinkles: Opt for jimmies that are less likely to melt or bleed their colors.
• Colored Sanding Sugars, Nonpareils, Dragees: For adding extra sparkle and festive cheer.

Crafting Your Perfect Batch: Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps to create the most divine soft sour cream cookies that will impress everyone!

Baking the Best Soft Sour Cream Cookies:

1. In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine and whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside while you prepare the wet ingredients.
2. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the shortening and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Gradually add the reserved flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; stop as soon as no dry streaks of flour remain. The dough will be soft.
4. Once the dough is prepared, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Chilling is crucial as it helps firm up the dough, preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking and intensifying their flavor.
5. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy removal and to prevent sticking.
6. Drop the chilled dough onto the prepared baking sheets by spoonfuls or using a ¼ cup cookie scoop. Arrange about 6 cookies per sheet, allowing ample space as they will spread slightly during baking.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers appear set. The cookies should still be very soft to the touch in the middle.
8. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Ensure they are fully cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.

Whipping Up Homemade Buttercream Frosting:

While the cookies cool, prepare your rich and creamy buttercream frosting:

1. In a clean mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated, then increasing to medium-high until smooth.
2. Stir in the vanilla extract and milk, beating until the frosting is smooth and reaches your desired consistency. If the frosting is too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time.
3. If desired, add a few drops of gel food coloring to tint your frosting. Mix until the color is evenly distributed.
4. Once the cookies are completely cool, spread the buttercream frosting generously over each cookie using an offset spatula or knife.
5. Immediately add your chosen decorative accessories, such as sprinkles, sanding sugars, or nonpareils, to the frosted cookies before the frosting sets. Allow the frosting to set on the cookies before stacking or storing.

Easy Frosting Alternative:

Alternatively, for a quick and convenient option, you can use 2-3 Pillsbury™ Filled Pastry Bags of Vanilla or Cream Cheese Frosting. Simply snip the corner and pipe directly onto your cooled cookies for instant decoration!

How to Store Your Delicious Sour Cream Cookies

Proper storage is key to keeping these delightful cookies fresh and enjoyable for as long as possible. Here are our recommendations:

• Room Temperature Storage: Store baked, unfrosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. They will last longer, but their peak freshness and softness will start to diminish after this period.
• Refrigeration for Frosted Cookies: If your cookies are frosted, particularly with buttercream, it’s best to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This helps the frosting maintain its structure and prevents it from softening too much. Let them come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving for optimal taste and texture.
• Freezing for Long-Term Freshness: These sour cream sugar cookies freeze beautifully! You can freeze both unfrosted and frosted cookies in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. For best results, flash freeze them on a baking sheet until firm before transferring to a container to prevent sticking. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply pull them out and let them thaw at room temperature. They will retain their moist, delicious texture, tasting as if you just baked them. If freezing unfrosted cookies, you can frost them and add sprinkles once thawed.

Expert Tips & Tricks for the Best Soft Sugar Cookies

Achieving perfectly soft and delicious sour cream sugar cookies is easier than you think, especially with these helpful tips:

• Plan Ahead for Chilling: The cookie dough for this recipe is intentionally soft, which contributes to the ultimate tenderness of the baked cookies. This means chilling the dough for at least 1 hour (or even overnight) is absolutely essential. If you’re short on time, prepare the dough the day before – it’s a great make-ahead option!
• Choosing Your Cookie Size: I find that using a ¼ cup cookie scoop yields beautifully sized, substantial cookies. However, if you prefer smaller cookies, a heaping large tablespoon works perfectly. Just remember to adjust your baking time accordingly – smaller cookies will bake faster.
• Embrace the Sour Cream: Don’t let the “sour cream” ingredient sound odd to you! It’s the magical component that imparts unparalleled moisture, a delicate tang, and that signature pillowy soft texture. These cookies are not overly sweet on their own; the sour cream beautifully balances the flavors, and the creamy buttercream frosting brings everything together for the most delicious holiday cookies imaginable.
• Sour Cream Substitution: If you don’t have sour cream on hand, plain full-fat Greek yogurt makes an excellent substitution. It provides a similar tang and moisture content, ensuring your cookies remain wonderfully soft.
• Homemade vs. Shortcut Frosting: While homemade buttercream frosting offers the freshest and most superior taste, there’s no shame in taking a shortcut! Pre-made frostings like Pillsbury™ Filled Pastry Bag Vanilla or Cream Cheese Frosting (similar to what I used on these cute snowman treats) are fantastic time-savers. Feel free to customize any frosting with gel food coloring to match your party theme or add your own signature style with various sprinkles – it’s all about having fun in the kitchen!
• Ensure Ingredients are at Room Temperature: For the best results, make sure your eggs, sour cream, and butter (for the frosting) are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together smoothly and incorporate air efficiently, resulting in a lighter, more consistent dough and a smoother frosting.
• Don’t Overmix the Dough: Once you add the dry ingredients, mix only until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tough cookies instead of the desired soft and tender texture.
• Cool Completely Before Frosting: Patience is a virtue when it comes to frosting cookies! Always ensure your cookies are completely cooled to room temperature before applying any frosting. If they are even slightly warm, the frosting will melt, slide off, and create a messy result.

These soft sugar cookies with sour cream are truly exceptional for any occasion. They shine brightly at cookie exchanges, holiday entertaining events, birthdays, and other special gatherings. And let’s not forget the most important cookie connoisseur of all – Santa Claus! The kids, of course, will absolutely adore them too, making them a perfect treat for the whole family.

Trust me when I say that everyone who tries this recipe will be utterly captivated by these best soft sugar cookies. Be prepared for friends and family to beg you for the recipe, or even better, to ask you to make them again and again! You’ll see just how popular they become.

For those seeking a plant-based option, be sure to check out these yummy Soft and Delicious Vegan Sugar Cookies. They are delightful on their own and equally perfect for decorating with icing and sprinkles, making them a wonderful addition to any holiday spread.

In conclusion, these soft sour cream cookies are much more than just a dessert; they are a delightful and versatile treat that can bring joy at any time of the year. Their unique combination of tender texture, subtle tang, and perfect sweetness, especially when paired with homemade buttercream frosting, truly elevates them above the rest. Whether you choose to enjoy them simply or adorn them with festive toppings, these cookies are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet cravings and leave a lasting impression.

With the detailed ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and expert tips outlined in this article, you now have all the tools and confidence to bake the best soft sour cream cookies you’ve ever had. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on this wonderful baking journey. Don’t forget to share your delicious creations with friends and family, making these cookies a cherished new holiday tradition or a year-round favorite. The possibilities for personalization and enjoyment with soft sour cream cookies are truly endless, and we eagerly await to see the delightful treats you create. Happy baking!

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For more festive inspiration, explore 10 Super Sweet Christmas Tree Desserts To Pine Over!