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Sour Cream Cookies are deliciously rich and buttery, vanilla-scented, and crisp outside with a soft interior. They’re impressive to look at, but easy to make in less than 30 minutes!
These are the type of cookies that make me think of afternoon tea. The swirls are so delicately pretty dusted with powdered sugar!
Enjoying a fancy teatime is always such a treat. I’ve been to a few different places – Harrods in London, The Plaza in New York, Ladurée in Paris, Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, and Russian Tea Room in Chicago – and as much fun as it is to get dressed up and go out, I have to admit, I think I might prefer making a beautiful afternoon tea at home! Planning it is half the fun.
These simple, yet gorgeous cookies are the kind of treat that I would love to include. Sour Cream Cookies look fancy and elegant, but couldn’t be easier to make. And they whip up in less than 30 minutes!
These also make a delicious treat paired with a cup of coffee. You can sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar to make them extra pretty. And if chocolate is your thing, mini chocolate chips are a good addition. Or if you like jam shortbread sandwiches, go ahead and sandwich these cookies together.
These rich, buttery, vanilla-laced cookies are crisp outside and soft inside, and sure to be a new favorite!
In This Article
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. In less than 30 minutes (including the time it takes to clean up the kitchen), you’ll have a gorgeous batch of delicious cookies!
- Great flavor and texture. These have a similar rich, buttery flavor as shortbread, but are a bit softer thanks to the addition of sour cream.
- Bakery quality. These swirled cookies are as pretty as the ones you’d get in a bakery!
Can You Taste Sour Cream in Cookies?
No! You can’t taste sour cream in these cookies. If you tasted one and didn’t know it had sour cream, it would be a nearly impossible ingredient to guess.
The sour cream does two things in this recipe: 1) it adds a slightly tangy flavor to balance the sweet richness (without being a prominent flavor that you can pick out), and 2) it makes them a bit softer than regular shortbread cookies.
The Best Easy Sour Cream Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- Sour cream
- Vanilla
- Powdered sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
Add the butter, sour cream, and vanilla to a large bowl, and cream together until smooth (you use a handheld electric mixer or do this by hand). Stir in the powdered sugar, flour, and salt until combined.
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the dough out into round circles onto the baking tray, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
Bake until the cookies are light golden on the bottom, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the baking tray and then remove with a thin metal spatula.
Storage
Store Sour Cream Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Variations on This Recipe
- Chocolate chip. Add ¼ cup mini chocolate chips to the batter before piping.
- Jam sandwiches. Sandwich 2 cookies together with your favorite jam. Or use jam and buttercream if you like.
- Powdered sugar dusting. For an elegant look, sift a little powdered sugar on top right before serving.
More Beautiful Cookies to Make
- Ma’amoul (Middle Eastern Date-Filled Cookies)
- Fresh Strawberry Cookies
- Old Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Sour Cream Cookies Recipe
By: Faith Gorsky
Sour Cream Cookies are deliciously rich and buttery, vanilla-scented, and crisp outside with a soft interior. They’re impressive to look at, but easy to make in less than 30 minutes!
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Prep Time 12 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Servings 12 servings
Calories 166 kcal
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter on the soft side of room temperature (not melted)
- ¼ cup sour cream at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour plus an additional 1 tablespoon if cooking at low elevation
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350F. Get out a large baking tray (no need to grease it or line it).
Add the butter, sour cream, and vanilla to a large bowl and cream together until smooth (you use a handheld electric mixer or do this by hand).
Add the powdered sugar, flour, and salt, and stir to combine.
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the dough out into round circles onto the baking tray, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
Bake until the cookies are light golden on the bottom, about 10 to 12 minutes.
Cool on the baking tray and then remove with a thin metal spatula.
Faith's Tips
- Recipe Yield and Serving Size:This recipe makes 12 cookies; each serving is 1 cookie.
- Make Them Extra Pretty: If desired, serve with a dusting of powdered sugar on top.
- Storage: Store Sour Cream Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Sour Cream Cookies Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 166Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 23mg8%
Sodium 100mg4%
Potassium 27mg1%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 0.4g2%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 263IU5%
Vitamin C 0.04mg0%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Sour Cream Cookies, Sour Cream Cookies Recipe
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