I am excited to share my favorite Soft Sugar Cookie recipe. These cookies are very addicting and make the perfect homemade treats for the holidays. Bake a batch to enjoy at home with your family or send some to special friends, neighbors or relatives as special homemade holiday gifts. Promise they will love them!
My husband and I love to bake cookies every Christmas with our kids. Yes, it takes longer. Yes, it can get messy, but just seeing the excitement on their faces, it is worth it. So get the kids in the kitchen to bake with you and start a new tradition this holiday season.
Ready to make these delicious sugar cookies?
Melt in the mouth Soft Sugar Cookies
Adapted from Life Made Sweeter
For the cookies:
Yield: About 40 cookies
- 1 stick of unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
For the frosting:
- 1 stick of unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tbsp heavy cream
- Food coloring

Make the cookies:
- Using your mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until nice and fluffy. Add egg and beat until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add sour cream and vanilla and beat, until well combined, scraping down the bowl with a silicone spatula.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Turn the mixer on low and slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Using a tablespoon, scoop cookie dough onto the baking pan (spacing about 2 inches apart).
- Bake on middle rack for about 11 minutes or until the cookies are just starting to turn golden (NOT brown) on the edges (switching and rotating baking sheets about halfway through). Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on the sheet. Repeat with any remaining dough.
Make the frosting:
- Cream butter (and shortening if using) in a stand mixer or using your hand mixer for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add salt, vanilla then slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, then add the food coloring and continue to beat until smooth.
- Once cookies have cooled completely, frost them and add sprinkles, if desired. Is the frosting enough to ice about 40 cookies? Yes! I have been using this recipe for a long time.
I hope you enjoy this recipe to create sweet holiday memories in the kitchen with your family!
Merry Christmas, sweet friends!
Check out these other holiday treats:
nice recipe.. i am going to try this in the new year eve..