• 2 c. granulated sugar
  • 1 c. softened butter
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 c. sour cream
  • ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • Approximately 5 c. all-purpose sifted flour
  • Cout-Out Cookie Frosting
  • 3 tbsp. softened butter
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2.5 to 3.5 tbsp. milk (to desired spreading consistency)
  • Liquid or paste food coloring
  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups powdered sugar or so

My dear friend, Anne, in New York gave me this recipe years ago. I like to add pure vanilla. Anne uses buttermilk, which is delicious, but I like to use sour cream because you don’t have to let it sit in the refrigerator long. Every year, we make these cookies for different holidays. Just change your cookie cutter accordingly. I remember when my oldest son, Nathaniel made Cookie Christmas trees in Asheville for each of his piano students! We’d also make this for family visiting during Christmas time. It was fun to decorate the trees together!

Soft and chewy, this is my go-to recipe for all seasons! Our autumnal cookie cutters are being used today! Heart cookie cutters of different sizes help make the perfect Valentine Sugar Cookies for your loved ones!

Cookies

Cream the first five ingredients very well. Add baking soda and powder. Add flour slowly until dough forms. Chill. Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut out shapes as desired. If decorating with sprinkles or colored sugar, gently press into top of cookies before baking. Store between layers of wax paper.

Cut-Out Cookie Frosting

Cream the ingredients together until smooth; makes enough to frost one batch of cookies.