Old Fashioned Soft Sugar Cookies

Growing up we always made these cookies for Valentine’s Day. We would put them on plates and then drop them off on our friends’ doorsteps, ringing the doorbell and running off. We still continue this tradition in my home today. I think it’s the best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

In my humble opinion these are the perfect soft sugar cookie. (I have another recipe for crispy ones that I’ll share in the future.) They are a little less sweet, which means they pair well with the sugary butter cream frosting.

I’ve included my butter cream frosting recipe below. But please consider it more of a guideline than a recipe. Depending on the weather and your mood, you might want more or less cream, more powder sugar, or add almond extract. Play with it and make it your own. I mean it’s fat and sugar. You can’t go wrong.

Soft Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter (room temperature)

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla or nutmeg

3 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sour cream

Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy, mix in egg and vanilla. Stir in the sour cream. Finally, add sifted dry ingredients. (Or forget to sift and run the risk of baking in yucky soda clumps—been there, done that.)

Roll out dough until 1/4 inch thick. Cut and bake at 350º for 8-10 minutes.

After cookies have cooled, frost with buttercream frosting.

Butter Cream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)

4 cups powder sugar

1/4 cup cream

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix until fluffy and delicious. Add one or two drops of red food dye for pink Valentine cookies.