Grandma’s 100-Year-Old Sour Cream Butter Cookies

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Sure! Here’s a detailed, expanded recipe in a full storytelling format, centered around your cherished 100-year-old recipe from your beloved grandmother. This format is perfect for a blog, a recipe card, or even a cookbook chapter.

Grandma’s 100-Year-Old Sour Cream Butter Cookies

“They will disappear in 1 minute!” – A Legacy of Love in Every Bite

Introduction

There are some recipes that become the soul of a family, passed down through generations like heirlooms. This is one of them. My favorite grandmother, a culinary instructor who lived for over a century, made these tender sour cream butter cookies for every special occasion—and often just because. The moment the warm scent of butter and vanilla filled the kitchen, we knew something magical was happening. These cookies are soft, rich, and delicately sweet—timeless in every way. And yes, they truly vanish in under a minute.

A Brief History

Over 100 years ago, in a warm, bustling kitchen without stand mixers or digital timers, this recipe was born. My grandmother, then a young girl, learned this from her own mother and carried it with her through the decades. She tweaked and perfected it, teaching students and family alike, ensuring that each cookie held not just flavor, but history. Every bite whispers of simpler times, strong women, and love kneaded into dough.

Ingredients (Big Batch – approx. 6 dozen cookies)

For the Dough:

  • 400 g (1 ¾ cups) unsalted butter, softened
  • 400 g (2 cups) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 400 g (1 ¾ cups) full-fat sour cream
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp almond extract (optional, but Grandma loved it)
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 800 g (6 ½ cups) all-purpose flour (start with 6 cups, add more as needed for soft, pliable dough)

Optional Toppings:

  • Coarse sugar or cinnamon sugar, for sprinkling
  • Powdered sugar glaze (for cooling and drizzling)

Instructions

1. Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. This step is essential for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

2. Add Eggs, Sour Cream, and Flavorings

Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Then mix in the sour cream, vanilla, and almond extract (if using). The mixture will be rich and creamy.

3. Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until a soft, non-sticky dough forms. Avoid overmixing.

4. Chill the Dough

Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight. Chilling allows the flavors to develop and makes shaping easier.

5. Preheat & Prepare

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

6. Shape the Cookies

Scoop or roll tablespoons of dough into balls. For a more elegant finish, slightly flatten with your fingers or the bottom of a glass. Sprinkle with sugar or cinnamon sugar if desired.

7. Bake

Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just golden and centers are set. Do not overbake—these cookies are meant to be soft and tender.

8. Cool and Glaze (Optional)

Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack. If glazing, drizzle with powdered sugar glaze once fully cooled.

Formation & Presentation

Serve these cookies stacked high on a vintage plate, just like Grandma did, or wrap them in parchment and twine for a heartfelt homemade gift. Their pale, creamy centers and soft edges make them as lovely to look at as they are to eat.

Conclusion

This recipe is more than flour and sugar—it’s family. It’s legacy. It’s love, formed by hand and baked with care. When my own children sneak them warm from the cooling rack, I smile, knowing we’re part of a beautiful, buttery chain that stretches back over a century.

For the Lovers of Tradition and Taste

These cookies are for:

  • The nostalgic baker
  • The heritage cookbook collector
  • The family who believes love is passed through generations
  • The midnight snackers who believe “just one more” is a valid excuse

These are Grandma’s cookies, and now they’re yours.

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