Sour cream not only adds flavor to cookies and cakes but it creates a really soft and tender crumb. I have a super easy recipe for homemade sour cream if you forgot to pick some up from the store and it’s not as nearly as complicated as it sounds. Use it to make these incredible cookies and my sour cream pound cake too.
What you need to make this recipe
Butter – butter is used for making the cookies and buttercream frosting, you must use unsalted butter and it should be softened (at room temperature) to avoid lumps. Sugar – I use granulated white sugar to make these cookies, you can use brown sugar if you prefer which will add a slight molasses flavor and will give the cookies a darker color. Sour cream – sour cream is the key ingredient here it not only adds flavor but helps create soft and tender cookies. If you don’t have sour cream then be sure to check out my homemade sour cream recipe. Vanilla – make sure to use vanilla extract or real vanilla and not vanilla essence.
How to make Sour Cream Cookies
Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a bowl and stir to combine, set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar together in a separate bowl.
Add the egg and vanilla to the creamed butter and sugar and mix in.
Next, add the sour cream and mix until combined.
Add the dry ingredients and mix it into the cookie dough until well combined.
Scoop the cookie dough out onto a baking sheet and bake the cookies until just starting to turn a light golden color.
Mix all the buttercream ingredients together in a bowl.
Frost your cookies once completely cooled.
Pro tips for making this recipe
Make sure your butter is softened (at room temperature). All other ingredients (sour cream and egg) should be at room temperature for best results. Just remember to remove them from the fridge around 1 hour in advance. For even-sized cookies use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop. I like to use damp hands to pat the cookies down slightly and give them an even shape after scooping them onto a cookie sheet, this just helps to make them more uniform. Make sure to line your cookie sheet with baking parchment or a silicone mat. I recommend using gel food coloring if you’d like to create different buttercream colors. If you want to add different flavors you can try adding lemon or orange zest to the cookie dough and add a little fresh citrus juice to the buttercream frosting. Also, check out my Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, and Sugar Cookie Icing for other frosting ideas. Make sure your cookies are completely cooled before frosting or the frosting will melt off.
How do I know my cookies are ready?
These cookies don’t take long to bake (around 10-11 minutes) you’ll know they are ready when they just start to turn a light golden color around the edges.
How can I decorate these cookies?
I recommend adding gel food coloring to your buttercream to create fun colors. Pastel colors are great for any time of the year and red or green a perfect for adding a holiday spin. You can also use fun sprinkles to decorate your cookies, check out my recipe for homemade sprinkles or buy them at your local supermarket.
Can I prepare these in advance?
These cookies are easy to prepare in advance. Simply make the dough and store it in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Alternatively, you can bake and frost the cookies and they’ll keep well in an airtight container for around 3 days.
Can I freeze them?
Yes, these cookies freeze really well and can be stored for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing them before frosting them so they are easier to store but you can also freeze them after frosting them too. If you’ve tried these Sour Cream Cookies then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
