Soft Sugar Cookies | Long Distance Baking

Is anyone else super behind on their holiday baking?! I don’t know where the time went! Sugar cookies are a classic. For any holiday! We used to make these every year growing up. The recipe is from my Aunt Jacki and to be honest, I don’t know where she got it. But this is the one recipe I’ve given out more than any other. Kelly visited me for New Year’s last year and ate sugar cookies at every meal I think!

Normally I’m not a huge sugar cookie fan (do we say this a lot on this blog?!) but these are…different. They’re not overly sugary, but they’re not bland or boring either. They almost taste buttery? But there isn’t any butter in them! (don’t worry…just a million cups of shortening and sour cream). Just trust me, you need to taste these and then try to tell me you don’t like sugar cookies.

It’d been awhile since I made this recipe (a whole year to be exact) and I kind of forgot how many it makes! I actually made the mistake of doubling the recipe for my roommate and I…let’s just say half way through I struggled fitting it all in one bowl. A normal single batch of these cookies makes about 6-7 dozen cookies. BUT. Good news is the dough freezes wonderfully! And can be saved for another occasion down the road.

I was pretty excited about my new reindeer cookie cutter, but I kept breaking his legs or his neck! Sorry Rudolph…

These cookies are a hit with anyone and everyone…some of these went out to my friends in their Christmas gifts (and I have it on good authority at least one two of them ate the entire bag in one sitting). Don’t you LOVE these mugs?! I found them on etsy! I’m obsessed and wish I bought one for myself.

Hope you enjoy! Royal icing recipe coming soon…

~Stephanie

Soft Sugar Cookies

  • 1 cup shortening
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 6 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  1. Cream shortening, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Add in sour cream.
  2. In separate bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt
  3. Add dry ingredients and mix well. (If dough seems too sticky to roll out, add a little more flour)
  4. Roll out on floured board to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes
  5. Bake at 400 degrees for 5-6 minutes or until edges begin to brown
  6. Frost and decorate as desired