Sour Cream Cutout Cookies

These are fabulous sugar cookies.  I really like them because they are not your typical sugar cookies.  They are fluffy and light, but no in the low calorie kind of way.  I love making these during Christmas time!

The Goods

• 2 cups sugar                        
• 1 cup sour cream                  
• 3 eggs    
• ½  cup butter                  
• ½  cup vegetable shortening         
• 5 ½   cups all purpose flour       
• 2 teaspoons baking powder       
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla          
• 1 teaspoon almond extract      
• 1 / 4  teaspoon salt

 

Mix sugar, sour cream, eggs, butter, shortening. Beat medium speed until light and fluffy.  Normally, I would not put all this in the mixer at the same time, but I did.  It mixed fine! The mixture is fairly liquidy (remember you will be adding a LOT of flour).  Add the vanilla and almond extract.

Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda in large bowl.  Beat at low speed one cup at a time.  Make sure you are scraping down the sides, and make sure your mixture is well combined (will be a little sticky).

I split the dough in two.  Place dough onto plastic wrap, and wrap tightly.   I usually freeze one half in a freezer bag. Place the other half in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, overnight, or until firm.

 

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough on floured surface.  I keep the saran wrap on it to flatten it out with my hands.  Roll out to desired thickness.

Add some flour on the top of the dough.  I usually roll the dough out a couple time to make sure it will be easy to transfer to the baking sheet.

I find it helpful to place the cookie cutters in flour before using them.

Place cut shapes 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. 

Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until edges BEGIN to turn brown.  My balloon cookies looked a little funny (they need frosting...badly).

Cool before frosting.

Frosting Goods

• 1 / 2 cup butter                     
• 1 / 2 cup shortening                
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups powder sugar
• 3 to 4 tablespoons milk

Mix butter, short, and vanilla.  Slowly add sugar.  Add milk until creamy.

Now this looks like a balloon!

Grace, peace, and be sure to enjoy some sweets!

{Leslie}