Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Do you LOVE sugar cookies as much as I do? Probably not. That would be almost impossible. But, if you like them even half as much as I do, you'll love this recipe.

When I was engaged, I lived with my grandmother for a few months and a lady in her neighborhood made these delicious sour cream sugar cookies for a church women's group party. They were so good I just had to have the recipe. I knew that I would be married soon and needed to have the recipe to impress my new husband (tee hee). They were a hit with Dan then, and continue to be today with the whole family. The secret is the sour cream. The sad part is that neither I nor my grandmother wrote down the name of the lady who gave me the recipe. So I guess 25 years after the fact they are now "Karen's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies." Enjoy!

Karen's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
makes about 4 doz. depending on size of cookie cutter

Cream together:
2 C. sugar
1 C. butter flavored shortening
2 C. sour cream

Add and beat:
1 eggs
1 tea. vanilla

Stir in:
4 1/2 C. flour
1 tea. soda
1 1/2 tea. salt

Roll out on a nicely floured counter. I knead in as much more flour as it feels it needs before I roll it out. Roll to about 1/4" thick and use cookie cutters of your choice. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until done.

Cool on rack then frost. I LOVE to use buttercream frosting. Here is my recipe for that as well.

Karen and Nedra's Buttercream Frosting (I got this recipe from my mother, Nedra. I remember helping her make it as early as 5 years old. We use it on cookies and cakes. Delish!)

1 stick butter, softened
4 C. powdered sugar
1 tea. vanilla
dash of salt
1/4 C. milk (or a bit more if needed)

Put all ingredients in mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Feel free to add a few tablespoons of cocoa to make chocolate frosting, a drop of mint extract for mint frosting, or even just food coloring for color.