If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate soft and sweet treat, you’re in for a real delight with this Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. I absolutely love how these cookies come out tender and melt-in-your-mouth soft, with a creamy frosting that adds just the right tangy sweetness. Whether it’s for an afternoon snack or a festive gathering, you’ll find this recipe becoming a fast favorite — trust me, your friends and family will be asking for the secret!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Soft Texture: The secret addition of sour cream makes these cookies incredibly tender and keeps them soft for days.
- Deliciously Creamy Frosting: The cream cheese frosting perfectly balances sweet and tangy, making each bite irresistible.
- Easy to Personalize: You can easily add colors, sprinkles, or even a little zest to make these cookies your own.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: From casual cookie swaps to holiday parties, these cookies always get rave reviews.
Ingredients You’ll Need
I’ve picked ingredients that work beautifully together to give you that soft, flavorful cookie base and the creamy frosting that raises it all to the next level. Here’s a peek at what I use and why, plus some insider tips for getting the best results with each one.
- Butter: Use softened unsalted butter to control the salt content and ensure the dough creams smoothly.
- Sugar: Regular granulated sugar gives you the perfect balance of sweetness and tenderness.
- Eggs: Eggs help bind everything together and add richness to the texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Fresh vanilla brings out the flavors; pure vanilla extract is key.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These leavening agents give the cookies just enough lift without making them cakey.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors, so don’t skip it even if it’s just a pinch!
- Sour Cream: The magic ingredient for softness and a subtle tang that balances the sweetness.
- Flour: All-purpose flour provides structure without weighing the cookies down.
- Cream Cheese: For the frosting, choose full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest texture and best flavor.
- Powdered Sugar: This keeps the frosting silky smooth and easy to spread or pipe.
Variations
I adore this recipe just as it is, but I’m all about tweaking it to fit your mood or dietary needs. You’ll see that with a few creative swaps or additions, you can make these cookies totally your own.
- Gluten-Free Version: I’ve tried swapping regular flour for gluten-free blends with great success—just be sure your blend includes xanthan gum.
- Lemon Zest Twist: Adding a teaspoon of fresh lemon zest to the dough adds a bright, fresh note that my family goes crazy for.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation: Use dairy-free butter and cream cheese alternatives to keep the soft texture and tangy frosting without the dairy.
- Festive Colors: Mixing a few drops of food coloring into the frosting makes these cookies perfect for holidays or celebrations.
How to Make Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Dough With Love
Start by sifting together the baking soda, salt, baking powder, and flour into a bowl – this step keeps your dough light and free of lumps. Next, cream the softened butter and sugar in a large bowl for about 3 minutes until fluffy; this is the key to those soft cookies that practically melt in your mouth. Add in the eggs and vanilla, then continue beating. When you add the dry ingredients, alternate them with the sour cream, beginning and ending with flour. Cover your dough tightly with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge overnight or for at least 8 hours – this chilling step makes all the difference for flavor and texture.
Step 2: Roll, Cut, and Bake
Preheat your oven to 375℉ and divide your chilled dough in half. Lightly flour your surface to roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick. Brush off any excess flour before cutting the cookies—this dough is soft, so use cookie cutters with simple shapes like hearts or circles for best results. Place the cut cookies on parchment-lined sheets—no greasing needed. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Let them cool on the pan briefly, then transfer to a wire rack so they don’t get soggy underneath.
Step 3: Whip Up That Heavenly Cream Cheese Frosting
While the cookies cool, whip together your softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar and vanilla, and mix until your frosting is delightfully smooth. If you’re feeling festive, this is the time to add food coloring. You can spread the frosting with a thin spatula or pipe it on for added flair. Sprinkle with your favorite decorations, and voilà—cookie perfection!
Pro Tips for Making Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Chill is Your Best Friend: Don’t skip chilling the dough overnight—it helps the flavors develop and makes cutting out cookies easier.
- Gentle Rolling: Roll the dough gently and try not to over-flour your surface to keep the cookies soft and tender.
- Watch Your Bake Time: Take the cookies out just as the edges start to turn golden to keep them soft inside.
- Frosting Consistency: If your frosting feels too thick, add a touch of milk, but add little by little—you want it creamy but firm enough to hold shape.
How to Serve Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Garnishes
I love finishing these cookies with a little sprinkle of festive sugars, tiny nonpareils, or edible pearls—especially when I’m baking for holidays or birthdays. The sprinkles add a fun texture and look always makes my kids’ eyes light up. If you want to get fancy, little piped rosettes on top are also a showstopper!
Side Dishes
Pair these soft cookies with a hot cup of coffee or your favorite tea for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. When I serve these at parties, a chilled glass of milk or even a fruity punch pairs wonderfully to balance the creamy frosting.
Creative Ways to Present
For birthdays or bridal showers, I arrange the cookies on tiered stands decorated with fresh flowers or tiny edible blooms, which always impresses guests. Wrapping them in cello bags tied with colorful ribbons also makes these cookies perfect party favors that feel handmade and heartfelt.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. I usually layer the cookies with parchment paper in between to prevent the frosting from sticking. This method helps them stay super soft, just like when fresh.
Freezing
I’ve had great luck freezing the cookie dough before baking—just wrap it tightly in plastic and foil. When you’re ready, thaw overnight and then roll and bake as usual. You can also freeze fully frosted cookies on a tray, then transfer to containers once frozen solid to keep their shape and flavor intact.
Reheating
To bring cookies back to life, I gently warm them in a 300℉ oven for just a few minutes—this refreshes the softness without melting the frosting. If your frosting has been frozen, let the cookies thaw completely before warming lightly.
FAQs
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Can I make Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies without sour cream?
Sour cream is essential in this recipe because it adds moisture and tenderness, making these cookies uniquely soft. If you don’t have sour cream, you can try substituting with full-fat Greek yogurt, but the texture might be slightly different.
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Why are my sugar cookies not soft?
Cookies can turn out hard if the dough wasn’t properly chilled, if you overbaked them, or used too much flour while rolling. Make sure to chill the dough as recommended, watch baking times closely, and flour your surface lightly.
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How long does the cream cheese frosting last?
When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, cream cheese frosting will keep well for about 3 to 5 days. Always use clean utensils to avoid contamination.
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Can I use crushed cake mix instead of flour for these cookies?
Cake mix has additional ingredients that might change the texture and sweetness of the cookies. For this recipe, stick with all-purpose flour to maintain the soft, tender crumb that sour cream helps create.
Final Thoughts
I have to say, this Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it strikes that sweet spot between easy to make and spectacular to enjoy. Baking these brings back cozy memories, and I love sharing them with friends who rave about how soft and flavorful they are. Give it a try — you’ll be so glad you did, and I promise these cookies will become your go-to treat for every celebration or anytime you want a little sweet comfort!
Print
Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 27 cookies
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies topped with a smooth and creamy cream cheese frosting, perfect for festive occasions or everyday treats. These cookies have a tender, melt-in-the-mouth texture with a subtle tang from the sour cream and a rich buttery flavor enhanced by the sweet cream cheese icing.
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup sour cream
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
Cream Cheese Icing:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: Sift together the baking soda, salt, baking powder, and flour in a medium bowl, then set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together using an electric mixer for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract for an additional 3 minutes until well combined and smooth.
- Incorporate Flour and Sour Cream: Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with sour cream in three portions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, mixing just until combined to preserve the soft dough texture.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight to allow it to firm up.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dough: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 375℉. Remove the chilled dough, divide it in half, and place on a lightly floured surface.
- Roll and Cut Cookies: Roll out each half of the dough to ¼-inch thickness, gently brushing off any excess flour. Use lightly floured cookie cutters (preferably simple shapes like hearts or circles) to cut the dough, keeping in mind the dough is soft and may not hold intricate shapes well.
- Arrange for Baking: Carefully transfer the cut cookies onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. There is no need to grease the sheet as the cookies won’t stick.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until edges just begin to turn golden. Avoid overbaking to maintain softness.
- Cool Cookies: Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Icing: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar and Vanilla: Gradually mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until the icing is smooth and well blended. Food coloring can be added if desired at this stage.
- Frost the Cookies: Use a thin metal spatula to spread the icing on the cooled cookies or pipe the icing onto cookies using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Decorate with sprinkles or sparkling sugars if desired.
Notes
- Refrigerating the dough overnight is key to easier handling because the dough is very soft initially.
- Use simple cookie shapes like hearts or circles since intricate details won’t hold well with this soft dough.
- Do not overbake; cookies should be soft and just starting to turn golden at the edges for best texture.
- You can tint the cream cheese frosting with gel food coloring for a festive touch.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days or frozen without frosting for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
