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Sour Cream Cut-Out Christmas Cookies Recipe

Sour Cream Cut-Out Christmas Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 40 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Sweet memories of Christmas come alive with sour cream cut-out christmas cookies, a nostalgic treat that whispers holiday cheer. Delicate, buttery, and perfectly spiced, these cookies invite festive joy onto your plate and into cherished family moments.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

Liquid and Binding Ingredients:

  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Royal Icing Ingredients:

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 23 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 46 tablespoons water (adjust for consistency)
  • Food coloring (optional)

Decorations:

  • Holiday sprinkles
  • Colored sugars
  • Edible glitter

Instructions

  1. Craft a silky dough by whisking flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, creating a dry ingredient foundation.
  2. Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until luxuriously smooth and pale, using an electric mixer for optimal texture.
  3. Incorporate egg, vanilla extract, and sour cream into the butter mixture, blending until the ingredients seamlessly unite.
  4. Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently until a soft, pliable dough emerges.
  5. Divide the freshly mixed dough into two equal portions, wrapping each carefully in plastic wrap to prevent moisture loss.
  6. Refrigerate the wrapped dough for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing it to firm and develop a more manageable consistency.
  7. Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  8. Retrieve one dough portion and roll it out on a lightly floured surface, aiming for a delicate 14-inch thickness.
  9. Select festive Christmas cookie cutters and press into the rolled dough, creating charming shapes like stars, snowflakes, trees, or gingerbread figures.
  10. Arrange cut-out cookies on prepared baking sheets, maintaining approximately 2 inches of space between each shape.
  11. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes, watching carefully until edges turn a delicate golden hue.
  12. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets briefly before transferring to wire racks for complete cooling.
  13. Once cooled, embellish cookies with royal icing or buttercream, adorning them with sprinkles, colored sugars, or edible glitter for a whimsical holiday presentation.

Notes

  • Softened butter ensures smooth mixing and helps create a creamy, uniform cookie texture without lumps.
  • Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing spread and maintaining sharp cookie cutter shapes during baking.
  • Use room temperature ingredients to help ingredients blend seamlessly and create a consistent dough structure.
  • For gluten-free options, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain similar texture and consistency.
  • Add festive flavors like orange zest or peppermint extract to customize the cookie’s taste profile without changing core recipe.
  • Avoid overworking the dough to prevent tough cookies; mix just until ingredients are combined for tender, delicate results.
  • Store undecorated cookies in an airtight container for up to a week, or freeze decorated cookies for extended freshness.
  • Use powdered sugar instead of granulated when rolling out dough to prevent tough cookie surfaces and add subtle sweetness.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 180
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 50 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg