Let’s talk about one of my favorite festive treats: 4th of July Sour Cream Sugar Cookies. These cookies are soft, thick, melt-in-your-mouth delicious—and the perfect canvas for red, white, and blue decorations. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, heading to a picnic, or just want to add a fun, patriotic touch to your holiday dessert table, these cookies deliver big time.

What makes them stand out? It’s the sour cream. It gives the cookies a slight tang and extra tenderness, which makes them feel like those bakery-style sugar cookies we all secretly love. They hold their shape beautifully if you want to use cookie cutters, and they’re fun to decorate with kids or friends. Bonus: they taste just as good plain as they do covered in frosting and sprinkles.

I’ve been baking these cookies every July for years. They’re always a hit, and I love how easily I can batch them up a day or two ahead of time without losing flavor or softness.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Soft and pillowy texture – thanks to sour cream, these cookies stay moist and tender
Perfect for decorating – hold their shape and frost beautifully
Make-ahead friendly – actually taste better after a day or two
Customizable – use different shapes, colors, and decorations
Kid-approved – both for eating and decorating
Classic flavor – a nostalgic sugar cookie taste with a buttery, slightly tangy twist
Great for sharing – make a big batch for parties or gifting

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cookies:

All-purpose flour – your standard base; spooned and leveled
Baking soda & baking powder – for the perfect lift
Salt – just a pinch to balance sweetness
Unsalted butter – softened, for rich flavor
Granulated sugar – classic sweetness
Eggs – helps with structure and softness
Vanilla extract – warm, sweet aroma
Sour cream – the secret to soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies

For the Frosting:

Unsalted butter – softened
Powdered sugar – for that smooth, fluffy texture
Vanilla extract – to complement the cookie base
Heavy cream or milk – adjust to reach your desired frosting consistency
Food coloring – red and blue for patriotic flair
Sprinkles – stars, stripes, or anything festive you have on hand

(Note: A complete list of ingredients with exact measurements is included in the instructions section below.)

How to Make It (Step-by-Step Instructions)

Step 1: Mix dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. This ensures even distribution and keeps things from clumping later.

Step 2: Cream butter and sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 2–3 minutes with an electric mixer. Don’t rush this step—it helps make the cookies light and airy.

Step 3: Add eggs, vanilla, and sour cream
Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and sour cream. The mixture might look a little curdled at first (thanks to the sour cream), but that’s totally normal.

Step 4: Combine wet and dry
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.

Step 5: Chill the dough
Cover the dough and chill it in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight). This helps firm it up, so it’s easier to roll and helps prevent spreading in the oven.

Step 6: Roll and cut
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes using cookie cutters—stars and circles are great for 4th of July.

Step 7: Bake
Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. Let cool completely before frosting.

Step 8: Make the frosting
Beat the butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream or milk. Divide into bowls and color with food coloring as desired. Adjust with more cream for a softer frosting or more sugar for a thicker one.

Step 9: Decorate
Once the cookies are cool, frost generously and top with festive sprinkles. You can go full red-white-blue or keep it simple and classy with stars and stripes.

Helpful Tips

Make them ahead
These cookies are actually better the next day. The flavors meld and the texture becomes even softer. You can make the dough up to 2 days in advance and store it tightly wrapped in the fridge.

Freezing
Both the dough and the baked cookies freeze well. Freeze dough in disks wrapped in plastic and foil, or freeze fully baked cookies (unfrosted) for up to 2 months. Thaw and decorate when you’re ready.

How to store
Keep frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. If stacking, place parchment paper between layers to avoid smudging the frosting.

No cookie cutters? No problem.
You can also roll the dough into balls and flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass for a simple round shape. Still perfect for frosting and sprinkles.

Frosting alternatives
Not a fan of buttercream? You can use a simple glaze (powdered sugar + milk + vanilla) or even a cream cheese frosting for extra tang.

Get creative with decorations
Use red and blue sanding sugar, star-shaped sprinkles, or piping gel for stripes. These cookies are like edible crafts—fun to make and even more fun to eat.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I skip chilling the dough?
Technically yes, but the cookies may spread more and won’t hold their shape as well. Chilling helps with texture and appearance.

Can I use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream?
Yes! Greek yogurt works well in place of sour cream. Just use full-fat for the best texture and flavor.

What’s the best way to apply frosting?
Use a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread frosting smoothly. For piping, transfer frosting into a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped.

Do these cookies stay soft?
Yes, they stay soft for several days thanks to the sour cream. Just store them properly and don’t overbake.

Can kids help with decorating?
Absolutely. Kids love adding sprinkles and choosing frosting colors. It’s a great family baking project.

I make these 4th of July Sour Cream Sugar Cookies every summer without fail. They’ve become a little tradition in my kitchen—bright, festive, and just the right amount of sweet. One last tip: pair them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate summer dessert. Give them a try and let me know how your batch turns out—they’re a total crowd-pleaser!