Sour Cream Cutouts

My favorite cut-out sugar cookie recipe ... one I have been using for years and years. A tradition at Christmastime, and also used often around Valentine's Day. I love the soft consistency of these cookies.

Sour Cream Cutouts

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting:

1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 cups confectioners' sugar

2 to 3 Tablespoons milk

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Chill dough at least 2 hours or overnight. Roll on a heavily floured board to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with a 3-inch cutter. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cookie springs back when lightly touched. Cool. Mix all frosting ingredients until smooth; spread over cookies.

Yield:  3 1/2 dozen

This year I doubled the recipe, and besides sharing some with grandchildren (and having two of them help with the decorating of some, when they were here overnight on the weekend), I made 5 dozen for a Student Venture event. Cutout cookies bring back a lot of memories ... with six children, we have used this recipe many, many years. A yummy, sweet cookie for this sweet holiday ...

Linked to Tasty Tuesday