4th of July Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

These patriotic 4th of July sugar cookies are perfect for the 4th of July! The cream cheese frosting is easily dyed red, white, and blue, and the sugar cookie dough itself is perfect for cookie cutters! It also makes a perfect 4th of July patriotic activity for kids.

The best part about these sour cream 4th of July sugar cookies is they work for any holiday, not just Christmas! You just need these perfect cookie cutters!

Shrouded in the inviting colors of the American flag – red, white, and blue – these 4th of July sugar cookies are the quintessential dessert treat for the United States’ Independence Day. Your kids will not only enjoy savoring these delicacies but also find immense joy in partaking in their creation. These blue sugar cookies bring together the sweet pleasures of a dessert and a fun-filled, patriotic activity for children.

You can adapt the recipe to celebrate any holiday, from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Easter to Halloween, by simply changing the shape and color of your cookies. This involves soft sugar cookies using different cookie cutters and giving royal icing or your cream cheese frosting a makeover with diverse color palettes. Herein lies the magic of these 4th of July sugar cookies – every holiday can be cherished with a batch of these delightful treats, with a simple twist.

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Sour Cream 4th of July Sugar Cookies

The “secret” ingredient for these sour cream frosted 4th of July sugar cookies is in the name – the sour cream!

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 5 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp. baking soda

The Cookie Creation Process

Start with the creaming process. Combine 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of butter, and 2 eggs. Stir these ingredients together until they attain a fluffy, creamy texture. Next, add the sour cream and vanilla extract to this flour mixture first. Stir these ingredients in and ensure they’re well incorporated.

In a separate mixing bowl, mix together the dry ingredients, namely the flour, salt, and baking soda. Now, slowly add these dry ingredients to the creamed mixture to make the 4th of July sugar cookies. As you add the dry ingredients, make sure to stir them in gradually. This slow addition of wet ingredients prevents the dough from becoming overworked, keeping it tender and light.

With your cookie dough now ready, it’s time for the fun part! Roll it out on a well-floured surface until it’s about 3/4 inch thick. Use your favorite cookie cutters to shape the cookies. This step can be personalized to any event – for the 4th of July, use star and flag cutters for a patriotic theme.

Once your 4th of July sugar cookies are shaped, bake them at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. The cookies should be golden brown and slightly puffy. Let them cool completely before moving on to the next exciting part – the frosting!

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Cream Cheese Frosting

You can’t enjoy these sour cream sugar cookies without topping them with cream cheese frosting! It’s super easy to dye for each occasion.

Ingredients

• 1 cube (1/2 cup) butter
• 8 oz softened cream cheese
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup milk
• up to 5 cups powdered sugar

How to Craft the Frosting

Start by beating together the butter and softened cream cheese. The goal here is to create a creamy and smooth mixture. Next, add the vanilla extract.

Now, alternate between adding the milk and the powdered sugar while continuing to beat the butter mixture. This method prevents the frosting from clumping and helps maintain a creamy consistency. Keep mixing until you achieve the desired texture. If the frosting is too runny, add a bit more powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, add a smidgeon of milk.

This cream cheese frosting is not just limited to these 4th of July sugar cookies; it also makes a decadent topping for blue cookies and cinnamon rolls!

In conclusion, these sour cream 4th of July sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting are a wonderful way to celebrate Independence Day, or indeed any holiday, with a touch of sweetness. They’re perfect for bringing the family together, both in baking and in enjoying them.

So this year, make your Independence Day celebrations a little sweeter with these delicious, festive homemade 4th of July sugar cookies below!

Tip: this is my favorite frosting recipe for cinnamon rolls!

Decorated Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Here are some amazing ideas on how to decorate these sour cream 4th of July sugar cookies!

Decorating and photos done by Sara Welburn Photography.