How To Make My All-Time Favorite Christmas Cookies

There’s something extra special about holiday traditions compared to other types of traditions. A mixture of festive feelings and nostalgia can make it so that our favorite traditions start to feel like a foundational aspect of the holiday season!

For me, there’s no better example of a foundational holiday tradition than my mother’s soft and fluffy Sour Cream Cookies. When I was a girl, these cookies were so ubiquitous in our house during the holidays that I thought everyone put out plates of them for Santa to enjoy.

I eventually learned there are many types of cookies people make for Christmas, but I still believe most people would prefer Sour Cream Cookies if given the option! And you wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve been asked for the recipe after gifting these cookies to neighbors and friends. :-)

So pull out your baking supplies and give these sour cream cookies a try, whether to give away or enjoy with your family. It’s a privilege to share such a meaningful holiday tradition with all of you, and I hope it adds something special to your holiday season too. :-)

My Mom’s Sour Cream Cookies

Ingredients:

For the cookies:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2-3 Tbsp milk
• 4-5 drops food coloring

Directions:

Step 1 – Make The Cookie Dough

Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a mixing bowl, then stir to combine.

In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the shortening and sugar together on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy.

While the mixer is running, add the eggs one at a time. Wait until the first egg is incorporated before adding the second.

Next, add the sour cream and vanilla to the bowl and mix until creamy.

Reduce the mixer to low speed, then add one-third of the dry ingredients at a time until everything is incorporated and evenly mixed.

Once the dough is finished, put it in the fridge to chill for 1-2 hours. (This is a very sticky dough, so chilling it properly is crucial! Without that time in the fridge, the dough will be impossibly frustrating to handle, so be patient!)

Step 2 – Roll Out The Dough & Cut Into Christmas Shapes

Preheat your oven to 350°F and gather your supplies. For this step, you’ll need some flour, a rolling pin, cookie cutters, and a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Start by dividing the dough into two. (It’s much easier to roll out one section at a time!)

Flour your work surface and rolling pin, then roll out your first portion of dough to a little over 1/4″ thick.

Dip your cookie cutter in flour, then cut out your cookies. Use a spatula or bench scraper to transfer the cookies to your baking sheet.

Step 3 – Bake The Cookies

Once the baking sheet is full, put it in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. The sour cream cookies are done when they are just barely starting to brown around the edges, so keep an eye on them!

After baking, transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely.

Step 4 – Frost & Decorate The Cookies!

While the cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting by mixing all the ingredients together in your stand mixer or with a hand mixer. If the frosting is a bit too runny, add more powdered sugar, and if it’s a bit too thick, add another splash of milk to achieve a thick, fluffy frosting.

Spread the frosting generously over your cooled cookies, then top with your favorite sprinkles!

For the cookies pictured here, I used candy cane sprinkles, white nonpareils, and a fun Christmas sprinkle blend!

Heap your frosted and festive sour cream cookies onto a plate, and be sure to snag one for yourself before the whole plate disappears! ;-)

Tell me about one of your meaningful holiday traditions!