Description
Classic Soft Sugar Cookies from grandma’s kitchen promise pure comfort and nostalgia. Sweet memories mingle with simple ingredients that welcome warm family gatherings around freshly baked treats.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (360 g/12.7 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 g/8 oz) unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup (200 g/7 oz) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (115 g/4 oz) unsalted butter (softened, for frosting)
- 2 cups (240 g/8.5 oz) powdered sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) sour cream
- 2–3 tbsps milk (to thin)
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional, for added flavor)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper for seamless cookie placement.
- Dry Mixture: Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, creating a uniform dry ingredient blend.
- Butter Mixture: Cream butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, then incorporate eggs one at a time, blending in vanilla extract, almond extract, and sour cream until smooth.
- Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring until just combined to create a soft, cohesive dough.
- Portioning and Baking: Scoop dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving adequate space between cookies. Bake for 8-10 minutes, looking for set edges and slightly puffy tops while maintaining a pale color.
- Cooling Process: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Frosting Creation: Whip butter until creamy, gradually adding powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Decoration: Once cookies are fully cooled, adorn with frosting, optionally enhancing with food coloring or sprinkles for added visual appeal.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture to maintain a soft, tender cookie texture without developing tough gluten strands.
- Chill for Better Shape: Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes before scooping to prevent spreading and create more uniform, perfectly round cookies.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter, eggs, and sour cream are at room temperature for smoother blending and more consistent cookie texture.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend, use dairy-free butter alternative, and replace eggs with applesauce for various dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 176
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg