Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe for Valentine's Day

Last night my son came home with two of these LARGE sugar cookies.  A friend of his that is still in high school bought him two for Valentine's Day.  Side Story... Our small local school sells balloons, flowers, cookies, and lollipops  for Valentine's Day.  All items are $3.00 down to 50 cents.  It is a fun time for the kids, affordable for the parents and teachers to gift their students, and they are hand delivered to their home rooms.  The big seller is the 50 cent lip pops, and these $1.00 cookies that are made by our very own home ec classes and volunteers.   We are a small school, but the numbers of these cookies ordered are staggering!  Anyways... My son came home with these cookies, and my hubby started to circle in.  He loves sugar cookies.  Well, needless to say the kid was not in a sharing mood, so hubby did not get one. :(

Before he left for work, my hubby gifted me a large box of chocolates  for Valentine's Day.  I have the day off from work, so the list on my studio wall was waiting for me.  After completing a few projects, I remembered that there was sour cream in the fridge (something that I normally do not stock) and the key ingredient in my soft sugar cookie recipe.  In honor of the day, my schedule was cleared for the afternoon, and I whipped up hubby some soft sugar cookies for Valentine's Day.  They aren't as fancy as the kid's cookies ;) , but they will still be a big hit for after dinner. :)

Here is the recipe if you would like to give them a whirl:

Soft Sugar Cookies

1/2 c.     Butter (softened not melted)
2            Eggs
1 c.        Sugar
1 t.         Vanilla Extract
3 2/3 c.   Flour
1 t.         Baking Powder
1/2 t.      Baking Soda
1/2 t.      Salt (optional)
1/2 c.     Sour Cream

Mix butter and sugar together.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix until smooth.  Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sour cream.  Mix until blended and dough is in a ball form.  Add more flour if dough is too loose.  Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight for best results.  On a floured board, roll out dough to 1/4 " thick.  Place on cookie sheet.  Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Bake 4-6 minutes.  (Springs back to the touch.)  Remove cookies to a wire rack for cooling.

The dough for this recipe is very sticky when mixed.  That is why they suggest refrigerating.  The chilly temps firm up the dough for handling and makes the surface require less flour in the rolling out process.  This step makes for a softer cookie.  If you want, use only a small amount of dough at a time and keep the rest waiting in the fridge.

These cookies are great for any occasion and come highly recommended by my family! ;)

Happy Valentine's Day! :)