Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

If I could make only one kind of cookie for Christmas, this would be the one *everyone* would ask for.

ready to frost half way through the cookies Sugar cookies decorating the sugar cookies

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Cream:
2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening

Add and mix well:
1 c. sour cream
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (or 1 tsp. vanilla or lemon, but almond is the best)

In a separate bowl, mix well:
5 c. flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Add flour to creamed mixture and mix until well blended.

This makes a very soft tender dough. It should be chilled for a few hours before rolling. Remember that adding more flour and doing more mixing makes dough tougher. I roll this out on a floured counter and cut it using floured cutters (just dip them in flour between cutting each cookie). I save all the leftovers till I’m done, then knead them smooth (knead as little as possible), then cut more cookies.

Bake at 350*F for 10 minutes.

This makes a lot of cookies. I actually double it for Christmas and never have enough! They go fast!

My favorite frosting for these cookies (and for decorating cakes):

2 pounds of powdered sugar
1 cup shortening
1/2 c. water
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Mix till smooth. Tint with paste or gel food coloring. This sets quickly so add sprinkles as soon as the cookie is decorated. I use cake decorating tips to decorate the cookies. A leaf tip makes great Christmas trees, holly leaves, and wreaths.

~~Rhonda

4 Comments

  1. Annie H
    Posted October 6, 2008 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

    Hi Rhonda, I’ve made the dough ~ is it best to go ahead and make the cookies now and freeze them for Christmas or keep the dough frozen awhile. BTW I noticed you didn’t mention if this recipe freezes well. Uh-oh. Help! Thanks in advance, annie h.

  2. ~~Rhonda
    Posted October 6, 2008 at 2:39 pm | Permalink

    Annie, the dough freezes well, as do the cookies. I usually bake the cookies and freeze them, then thaw before decorating. I decorate them the day before our big open house. I’m glad you tried it! 🙂 Let me know how they come out. ~~Rhonda

  3. Annie H
    Posted October 8, 2008 at 3:55 pm | Permalink

    Thanks Rhonda! I made 8 dozen sour cream sugar cookies and packed them away in the freezer, but not without a little sampling – yum, very light! Had to keep DH and DD’s from sneaking more. And today I made a large tray of Daniel’s Cookie Bites at DMs house and will pack them away soon. This is fun! Annie H

  4. Pame
    Posted November 29, 2009 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

    Once again ..your recipes are great.. Thanks for sharing

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