Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (Soft, Fluffy, Old-Fashioned Recipe)

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These Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are unbelievably soft, fluffy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The secret is the old-fashioned sour cream in the dough, which gives each cookie a tender crumb, a subtle tang, and the kind of nostalgic flavor that tastes like it came straight from grandma’s recipe box. If you’ve only had standard sugar cookies before, this version will absolutely blow you away.

Perfect for holiday baking, gifting, or decorating with the family, these cookies stay soft for days and pair beautifully with frosting. This is the kind of recipe people make once… and never stop making.

Soft sour cream sugar cookie with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles, with a bite taken out to show the tender interior.

Made with simple pantry ingredients you already have
Sour cream creates an ultra-soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture
Baking soda + baking powder give the perfect puffy rise
Dough chills beautifully and holds sharp cookie-cutter shapes
Easy frosting that complements the subtle tang of the cookie
Stays soft for days, great for gifting or holiday platters

Let’s Chit Chat!

Okay, confession time, sour cream sugar cookies have a chokehold on me. I grew up making soft sugar cookies, but the FIRST time I tried a sour-cream-based one, it completely changed the game. The texture is unreal… soft, puffy, tender, and just the right amount of tang to balance the sweetness.

And every time I bake these, my kitchen smells like a cozy bakery. They’re the kind of cookie that makes everyone ask for the recipe. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll never go back to regular sugar cookies again.

Since you are here and love soft cookie recipes, check out this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars, Christmas Punch recipe, this Lemon-flavored Soft Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe, or this Chilled Crumbl Sugar Cookies Copycat Recipe.

Why This Sour Cream Sugar Cookie Recipe Works
Ingredients for these sour cream sugar cookies
How to make these sour cream sugar cookies
Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies tips and tricks
Why do you need to make these sour cream soft sugar cookies?
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe

Ingredients for sour cream sugar cookies arranged on a table, including flour, sugar, butter, sour cream, egg, and milk.

Ingredients for these sour cream sugar cookies

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this perfect cookie recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the detailed ingredient measurements.

For the Cookies

All-purpose Flour: provides structure and forms the base of the cookie dough.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda: help these simple cookies rise slightly for a soft and fluffy texture.
Salt: enhances the flavors and creates the perfect balance of sweetness.
Unsalted Butter: adds richness and keeps the cookies soft and buttery. You will want the butter to be softened so pull it out of the fridge prior to starting the recipe.
Granulated Sugar: sweetens the holiday cookies.
Large Egg: acts as a binder and adds moisture.
Sour Cream: is the secret ingredient that provides a subtle tangy flavor and moisture to help the melt-in-your-mouth texture of these cookies.
Vanilla Extract: adds warmth and enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.

For the Frosting

Room-Temperature Butter: creates a creamy base for the frosting.
Powdered Sugar: sweetens and thickens the frosting for a smooth and spreadable consistency.
Milk: thins the frosting slightly to make it easier to spread. Use as much or little as you want for your desired consistency.
Vanilla Extract: infuses the frosting with flavor and complements the cookies.
Food Coloring (optional): adds fun colors to the frosting for decoration.
Sprinkles (optional): provide a festive touch.

Soft sour cream sugar cookies stacked with a frosted cookie cut open to show the fluffy interior.

How to make these sour cream sugar cookies

This is how you can make these tender cookies. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for the oven temp, prep time and baking time, and full recipe instructions!

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside for later.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Mix in the egg, sour cream, and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth and well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to over mix, as this can make the cookies less tender.
Divide the dough into two portions, shape each into a disc, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or overnight if desired.

Butter, sugar, sour cream, egg, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl.

Flour mixture added to the wet ingredients.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Using a rolling pin, roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters and place them on the greased baking sheet.

Sugar cookie dough shaped into a thick disc on parchment paper before chilling.

Rolled-out sour cream sugar cookie dough with round cookie cutter pressing out circles.

Bake just until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy and smooth.
Gradually mix in the powdered sugar, adding 1 cup at a time until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and 1–2 tablespoons of milk, stirring until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
Adjust the milk as needed. If desired, divide the frosting into portions and add food coloring to create different colors.
Spread or pipe the frosting onto the tops of the cookies.
Add your favorite sprinkles or other decorations as desired. Allow the frosting to set before storing the cookies.

A baked sour cream sugar cookie topped with a spoonful of fluffy pink frosting before spreading.

Frosted sour cream sugar cookie topped with sprinkles

Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies tips and tricks

Chill the Dough for Easy Handling: Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour before rolling it out. This helps the cookies hold their shape during baking and makes the dough easier to work with.
Don’t Overmix the Dough: When combining the dry and wet ingredients, mix until just incorporated. Overmixing is the most common mistake that can make the cookies tough instead of tender.
Cool Completely Before Frosting: Allow the cookies to cool completely to room temperature on a wire rack before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting or sliding off.

Why do you need to make these sour cream soft sugar cookies?

Old-fashioned flavor with a soft, tender crumb
Perfect for frosting & decorating
They stay moist for days
Easy holiday, birthday, or weekend cookie recipe
Made with simple ingredients you already have
A nostalgic cookie that tastes like grandma’s kitchen

Christmas sour cream sugar cookies with white frosting and red and green sprinkles

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ

What type of sour cream works best?

Full-fat sour cream works best for this recipe, as it provides the richest flavor and moist texture. Low-fat or non-fat sour cream can be used but may alter the final results slightly.

How do I store my leftover sour cream sugar cookies?

Store in an airtight container for 4 days in the fridge.
To freeze place frosted or unfrosted cookies in layers with parchment and freeze 1–2 months.

How do I prevent the cookies from sticking while rolling?

Use a lightly floured surface, or roll between two sheets of parchment.

Can I use cookie cutters with intricate shapes?

Yes, but be mindful that an intricate cut out might lose detail if the dough isn’t chilled enough or is rolled too thick. Chill the cut shapes before baking to help them hold their form.