Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Do you have a favorite cookie that you bake every year for a special holiday?  The variety of cookie that beckons a sampling as soon as the first dozen cookies are removed from the cookie sheet and are cool enough to handle.  I sure do!  For me it's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!  For over 30 years I've baked these rolled and cut out scrumptious treats (containing a hint of Nutmeg) in early December.  They freeze so well that they are stored in our freezer and are ready for Christmas week.  Last year I shared this recipe and it's the perfect time for me to do so again.

These soft, light, rolled out delicious cookies are fun to make not only because cookie cutters and colored sugars are used, but the two step or overnight process means the dough is prepared one day and refrigerated.  On the second day the rolling pin, pastry sheet and cookie cutters are used.  So fun to bake with your children or grandchildren!  There are also other times during the year when my cookie cutters and my red/white rolling pin are located and used.  However, before Christmas they are always used!

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies  printable recipe card

Oven:  375°F
Yield:  About 5 dozen, depending on size

Ingredients:
4 Cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 Cup unsalted Butter, softened
1 and 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Sour Cream (can be Fat Free)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Colored Sugars for Decorating

Method:

Day 1-

1. In large bowl with electric mixer beat Butter and Sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add Egg, beat.
3. Add in Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt and Nutmeg.
4. While beating on Low, slowly add Flour, 1 Cup at a time.
5. Add in Vanilla and Sour Cream.  Beat on Medium until well combined.  Dough will be stiff.
6. Remove dough from bowl and place on plastic wrap, wrap dough.
7. Place wrapped dough on aluminum foil and wrap well.
8. Refrigerate overnight.

Day 2-

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Unwrap dough and cut into four parts.
3. On well floured surface, roll dough to 1/4" thickness.  Use cookie cutters.
4. Place cookies on pan/sheet 1" apart.  (Maybe 12 cookies to a sheet.)
5. Sprinkle with colored sugars.
6. Bake 10 - 11 Minutes.  Bottom of cookies will be a light golden brown.
7. Remove with spatula to wire cooling racks.
8. When cool store in airtight containers.

**These cookies also freeze very well.

**For my family, any leftover dough is used to make "Initial" cookies.  Ropes are made from the leftover dough.  The first letter of each family member's name is shaped and placed on the cookie sheet.  Each letter is 2"-3".  For some reason these are eaten last, by the individual's choice.  Maybe because it will be the last one saved out!  :)

Now, it's time for me to sit in front of my Janome and finish my sewing project!

Do you have a favorite holiday cookie?
 
Enjoy!
Yummy!

         

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Ah, Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!  The Nutmeg makes them taste so yummy!  Can you tell they are my favs?  I really like baking these and also eating these.  They are the best Sugar Cookie I've ever tasted.  For that reason I bake them every year for special occasions.  My cookie cutters are ready! 

These delicious light cookies are made in two steps.  Day 1 make the dough.  Wrap and refrigerate.  On Day 2 the colored sprinkles are taken out of the cabinets along with the rolling pin and the cookie cutters.  Then, the fun begins!  Nibbling on a warm cookie that is cooling on the rack is the best.  These cookies are great AND they freeze very well.  Tomorrow the dough will be prepped.    

Printable recipe card.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Oven:  375°F
Bake:  10-11 Minutes
Yield:  About 5 dozen cookies depending on the size

Ingredients:
1 Cup unsalted Butter, softened
1 and 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Egg
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
4 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Sour Cream, can be Fat Free
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Method:
Day 1-

1. In large bowl with electric mixer beat Butter and Sugar until light & fluffy.
2. Add Egg, beat.
3. Add in Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt & Nutmeg.
4. While beating on Low, slowly add Flour, 1 Cup at a time.
5. Add in Vanilla & Sour Cream, still beating on Low.  Then beat on Medium until well combined.  Dough will be stiff.
6. Remove dough from bowl and place on sheet of plastic wrap, fold.  
7. Place wrapped dough on sheet of aluminum foil and wrap well.
8. Refrigerate overnight.

Day 2-

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Unwrap dough and cut into four parts.
3. On well floured surface, roll dough to 1/4" thickness.  Use cookie cutters.
4. Place cookies on cookie pan/sheet 1" apart.  (Maybe 12 cookies per sheet.)
5. Sprinkle with colored sugars.
6. Bake 10 - 11 Minutes in 375°F oven.  Bottom of cookies will be a light golden brown.
7. Remove with spatula to wire racks.
8. When cool, store in airtight container.  Cookies can also be placed in freezer.

I always sample a cookie or two.  It's all part of "quality control".  Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are just the best!

It's also a tradition in my kitchen that any leftover Sour Cream Sugar Cookie dough is used to make "Initial Cookies" for my fam.  Ropes are made from the leftover dough.  Then, the first letter of each family member's first name is shaped and placed on a cookie sheet.  Each letter is about 2"- 3" in height.  The last sheet of cookies are always the decorated initials for each family member.  :)   

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Holiday Cookies

At special times of the year do you bring out the Colored Sugars, a Rolling Pin and many cookie cutters? While glancing through pages in magazines or while watching food shows on t.v. you may get the urge to roll out, decorate and bake cookies.

For about three decades I have been making Sour Cream Sugar Cookies. Goodness, it has been that long! (Click here for printable recipe card.) These cookies are made in two steps. The result is an absolutely delicious, soft, cutout cookie with a hint of Nutmeg.

The dough for these Sugar Cookies is prepared on Day 1. After making the dough wrap it in plastic wrap and then in foil. Place the wrapped dough in the fridge. The next day – Day 2 - the dough is rolled out. Using your Rolling Pin and favorite cookie cutters a batch of delicious homemade holiday cookies will be ready!

After you bake these yummy Nutmeg flavored cookies, they can be cooled and placed in your freezer. When the holiday arrives defrost them. Your family and friends will enjoy eating these scrumptious treats. With Christmas just around the corner, I need to get busy and bake a batch this week! After we eat a few, most of them will be located in my freezer until Christmas arrives.

Do you bake special cookies for the holidays? What cookies do you traditionally bake?

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are my family’s favorite Sugar Cookie. It is difficult to eat just one!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

A Gift of Homemade Cookies

After enjoying an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with my family, December suddenly arrived. Celebrating the holidays is a wonderful time of the year and it does require preparation. You and I both are deciding on the special gifts to choose for family members and friends.

For special people who live a distance away an excellent gift is a batch of your homemade cookies (made from scratch not using a mix), packaging them and mailing the goodies. For different special occasions I have baked Craisin Raisin Oaties, Sour Cream Sugar Cookies or Chocolate Chip Cookies and mailed the homemade cookies to the thrilled recipients. (Click on bolded words for recipes and packaging instructions.)

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are absolutely delicious! Cookie cutters are used after the dough is rolled out. My family has never tasted a better sugar cookie! The baked and cooled cookies can also be placed in the freezer for your family to enjoy later.

Soft, delicious, chewy homemade cookies! Craisin Raisin Oaties, Sour Cream Sugar Cookies or Chocolate Chip Cookies all are yummy! They always hit the spot for any occasion and they can be packaged and mailed to a delighted family member or friend to enjoy!

Yummy!!!