I love to make these cookies and we decorate them for Santa. I always remember Vera Rasband and how she made these amazing cookies for Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day. She was famous for her cookies, but she was also famous for being such an amazing lady. Hope you SHARE memories of the wonderful family and friends of those you have loved and lost too.
Vera Rasband’s Soft Sugar Cookies
1 Cup sugar ½ Cup shortening 2 Eggs, room temperature 1 Cup dairy sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 Cups sifted flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ Cup additional sifted flour, approximately
Buttercream Frosting
½ Cup butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups powdered sugar 2 Tablespoons milk or half and half 3 drops of food coloring
COOKIES
Cream sugar and shortening; then add eggs. Add sour cream and vanilla. Sift together 3 cups flour, salt, soda, and baking powder. Add to egg mixture. Mix to combine. Add enough of the remaining flour to make the dough stiff enough to roll out. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Place about ¼ of the dough onto floured counter. Roll out to ¼ inch. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to cooling rack to cook. Frost the cooled cookies with buttercream frosting.
*To make Gluten Free use GF flour and ½ teaspoon xanthium gum. I get frustrated trying to make the dough roll out so I just roll into ball the size of a walnut and place on cookie sheet and smash with the bottom of a glass to the desired thickness. They make great ornament designed cookies that way.
FROSTING
Cream room temperature butter with a hand mixer. Slowly beat in powdered sugar until fully incorporated. Beat in vanilla extract.
Pour in milk and beat for an additional 3-4 minutes. Add food coloring, and beat for thirty seconds until smooth or until desired color is reached. You may need more milk or powdered sugar.