Sugar Cookies

This recipe is from a friend/neighbor in Hawaii. It's the best sugar cookie recipe I ever came across and one of the most used recipes I have. You can make them without the frosting but I think it the cookies aren't the same without it.

Soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (makes 3-4 dozen)

½ c softened butter

1 ½ c sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 ½ c flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ c sour cream

½ tsp salt

Mix butter and sugar together, add eggs and vanilla and blend until smooth. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sour cream, and salt. Mix until all ingredients are blended and dough forms a smooth ball. If dough is too loose add more flour. Cover and refrigerate two hours or overnight. On a well floured board roll out dough ¼- ½ inch thick. Cut out cookies and place on cookie sheet. Heat oven to 425 degrees, bake 4-6 minutes. Remove cookies and place on wire rack for cooling. Yields about 3 dozen cookies.

Butter Cream Frosting:

½ c butter

1# powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla

4 T milk

Food coloring (optional)

Place softened butter in a bowl. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Mix until smooth. If frosting is too loose add more powdered sugar. If frosting is too stiff add more milk. To decorate cookies in different colored frosting, add food coloring. Frost cookies when cool. The cookies freeze very well.