Sour Cream Cookies

These are about as simple and old fashioned as they come. Soft and tender, and not overly sweet, these moist cake-like cookies feature a hint of lemon and are velvety soft.
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
4 cups flour
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon extract
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Use an electric hand or stand mixer for this recipe.
In a large bowl, cream together sugar, shortening and eggs. Beat until light a fluffy. Add the flour and milk alternately until both ingredients are well mixed in. Add sour cream, baking soda, baking powder, salt, lemon and vanilla. Mix well until everything is well combined. Place bowl with dough in refrigerator for at least a half hour.
In the meantime, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Once the dough has been chilled it should feel firmer. Pinch a tablespoon of dough at a time and roll into a ball. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cut a small piece of parchment paper. Using a flat-bottomed glass/tumbler, place the parchment over the ball of dough and press down with the glass to flatten ball to about a quarter-inch thick discs. Press down all the dough balls into discs.
Now you can sprinkle the top of the discs with sugar, sprinkles, or non-pareils. If you want to frost or ice the tops of the cookies after baking, leave them plain.
Bake cookies in 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Tops of cookies will not brown, but bottom of cookies should be lightly golden.
Remove from oven and transfer cookies to cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting or icing, if you are doing so.
Makes six dozen cookies.

[@georgiannmaloney6594]

Yummy cookies. Love your videos and look forward to them. Take care from Southern Indiana. 🙋😸🤗☀️. GM ☀️

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Georgiann! So great to hear from you!! Thanks so much!

[@annjohnson4776]

Hi Kevin… lots of memory lane with your videos. This is no different. 😊 Mom always made these. She loved to bake and cookies were her calling card. I know this recipe by heart. 💓

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks so much, Ann! Glad it brought back memories - I'll bet your mom's cookies were wonderful!

[@cindywhite8118]

So good to see you again.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Cindy - great to hear from you!! Thanks!

[@bettyfreckles]

Happy to see you. Thank you for sharing.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Great to see you, too, Betty!! Thanks for watching!

[@bonniepeterman1904]

Well Hello Kevin. I was just thinking the other day that I hadn’t seen Cavalcade in a while. So happy to see you back. This is a good change of pace cookie recipe instead of always chocolate chip or oatmeal. Can’t wait to try it. Good tip using the parchment paper to help flatten the cookies. Say hello to Ralph and Maryann. Take care and stay warm. 😊

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Bonnie! Funny how so many of us seem to make the same cookies all the time, but chocolate chip, oatmeal and peanut butter seems to be everyone's favorite. But there are so many other good ones out there and these are wonderful. Hope all is well with you - thanks so much!

[@janetmiller1536]

So happy to see you on my feed this morning!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Janet - so glad you saw us!! Thanks!

[@dicdollars1911]

Glad to see you again! Made my day when I received the notification! ❤

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Glad we could make your day - thanks so much!

[@goingslightlymad7172]

Happy New Year! So glad you're back. 🥰

[@cavalcadeoffood]

HI GSM!! Glad to be back - Happy New Year to you and yours!!

[@dianebunk1844]

Happy to see you back. My granddaughter says happy new year to you. Cookies looked good.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Diane!! Glad to be back and Happy New Year to you and your granddaughter! Tell her I said hello!!

[@lifeisbeautifulxp]

Thank you for sharing this awesome video! Very inspiring!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

You're welcome -thanks for watching!

[@Bob-ml1mv]

Hello Kevin i my mom used to make these cookies. Now I make them. I love anything made with sour cream

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Bob - I'm with you. Sour cream in anything is great! Thanks!

[@jonathan_nc]

Your calling them cakey reminded me of something. My grandmother would have called these "cakes." Many's the time she said "Go in the kitchen and get you some cakes." We knew she meant cookies and which canister they were in too. The KitchenAid is perfect for cookie making. I look forward to more of your videos in 2022! Thanks for the recipe.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Jonathan! I've always found it interesting how people use certain words for different things. These are cakey little cookies. I agree - the KA is great for cookie dough. Thanks!

[@Bob-ml1mv]

Love your. Video s

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Bob!

[@CShannon1991]

Welcome back! I actually missed that yellow KitchenAid Mixer in your videos! Nice recipe!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Cj! I love that yellow KA mixer - it's been a good friend in the kitchen for many years! Thanks!

[@christopherfountain7129]

Hello from Kalamazoo MI. ! Try sprinklings with confectioners sugar instead of flour when flatting out the cookies, it adds a nice crackly top like a snickerdoodle. Nice flavor my friend. Gives me a chance to use my home-made vanilla and citrus extracts!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hello, Kalamazoo!! Thanks for the tip about using powdered sugar instead! I'm going to try it!

[@loiseads5524]

Kevin, these cookies are awesome!! My husband loves them and wants me to enter them in a cookie baking contest. Everyone that has tried them really likes them. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I truly enjoy your channel. I worked in a small town appliance store for 6 years and it was the best job ever! Keep up the videos because I love them!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Lois! So glad you and your husband like these cookies! If you enter them - I hope you win first prize! Working in that appliance store sounds like it was a lot of fun - thanks so much!

[@blukatzen]

Wow! YOURE BACK!!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Patirica!! Good to be back! Thanks!

[@garybrunet6346]

Definitely, trying these!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hope you give the cookies a try, Gary!

[@QueenCityHistory]

Hello fellow Kevin!! The man who has turned me into a vintage appliance lover and user...new appliances no longer exist in my house! It s so nice you see you and hear Mary Ann and we hope Ralph is well and we miss shtick behind the camera!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Kevin!! Glad I sold you on the fun of using vintage appliances! All three of us are well and we are glad to be back in the Cavalcade kitchen! Thanks!

[@karentowns5137]

Hey Kevin and Happy New Year! So glad you're back on the scene. I am a cookie lover and I make cookies for Christmas.I must try making those cookies. They look yummy. Keep warm. Here in Chicago wasn't too colo today.🌤👍😊

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Karen! These could easily be decorated for Christmas. Things are a bit warmer in Michigan the past couple days - hope all is well in Chicago!

[@sunshinegalkw9675]

Oh man! So yummy!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Sunshine!

[@patsytunnell2165]

Nice to see you Kevin! Have missed your videos.Stay mighty, stay strong!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Great to hear from you, Patsy! Thanks so much!

[@barry5153]

Thanks for the recipe! Happy New Year! You all are great!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

You're welcome, Barry! Happy New Year to you, too!

[@berylwhite2983]

I love these sour cream cookies! I have a suggestion for your glass. If you're trying to shape your cookies put your glass in the freezer to start with because nothing will stick to it. It always seems to me to be the heat makes a gooey great video

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Beryl! Thanks for the great tip! It makes sense that a cold glass will work better!

[@Terenia531]

Nice to see you back! Looks like a lovely cookie and I like the addition of the lemon extract. Happy new year!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Terenia! I like the lemon, too! Glad to be back in the kitchen - thanks!

[@iamtubeyou123]

It’s nice to see a new video. We have missed you.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thank you! Glad to be back!

[@margaretmojica8190]

I am glad you gave the formula to make "sour milk". I bought buttermilk in the store on two occasions (two different brands) to make a recipe and the buttermilk was so awful I immediately threw it out after using the cupful for the recipe and vowed to never buy buttermilk again in my lifetime. My mother used to buy buttermilk to make ranch dressing, 40 years ago, and the buttermilk was drinkable, but it is awful nowadays.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

I don't think many of the big dairies make buttermilk the way it used to be made - I'm guessing the add a lot of cultures to it. Sour milk is often a good substitute, and easy to make. Thanks!

[@scooterdover2771]

I was just thinking the other night how I haven't heard from Kevin and the gang in a very long time. Thanks for the recipe. It sounds good with the lemon. It's nice to do something a little different and I have had a cookie hankering of late.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Scooter! Nice to hear from you - I really like this cookie and it's something different. Thanks!

[@tomdeininger7379]

I'm a cookie monster, I agree with Mary Ann any is good for cookies. I'm going to make these.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Tom - hope you give these a try! Thanks!

[@burbie1342]

Happy New Year 🎊 It’s good to see you!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Good seeing you, Burbie!! Happy New Year to you!

[@meredithlynn]

Baby it’s cold outside🥶Great tea cookie recipe. We been missing you Ralph. Hope all is well. We made a yummy choc sheet cake yesterday. Wishing you a blessed New Year full of joy💜

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Meredith Lynn! We are all well here - hope you and yours are well, too! That chocolate cake sounds wonderful! Sending all our best wishes for the New Year!

[@cynthialambert9067]

Missed you! Welcome back.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Cynthia! Nice to hear from you!! Thanks!

[@ShesInLosAngeles]

👍🏼💕

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Jane!

[@hanscraig1850]

Kevin I cant wait to make these, I grease the bottom of my glass with Crisco then dip in the sugar and mash my sugar cookies, You could do this with these

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hans - that's a great idea!! Thanks I'm going to try it!

[@fritzy1819]

We have been making sour cream and orange cookies for years. They don't flatten out like the ones you made, and then we put a dab of orange frosting with fresh orange zest in it on the top after they were cool. Very good! Our family has made them for over 60 years!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Herman - I love your family recipe with the orange frosting and zest! They sound great! Thanks!

[@christinamo7]

Have you ever made the sugar cookies with sour cream from the old sunbeam mixmaster cook book? That cookbook was one of the first I learned to cook from so many decades ago. That cookie is still one of my very favorite.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Christina - I have not, but now I will look at that recipe! Thanks!

[@dr.ritagordon4371]

These are my favorite cookies from childhood! Thanks so much for sharing :)

[@cavalcadeoffood]

You're welcome!! Thanks for watching!

[@SomeWhereOverTheRainbow1]

Glad to see you back. This recipe looks great, than you for sharing. Do you have a vintage Vitamix?

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi - Thanks, I hope you try the recipe. I don't have vintage Vitamix at the moment, but if I ever come across one in good condition I'll add it to the collection. Thanks!

[@SomeWhereOverTheRainbow1]

@@cavalcadeoffood if you do get one it will be good to see you make so much with it... bread, pizza, hot soups. Ice cream and more

[@alisonschoenthaler2544]

Happy New Year!!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Happy New Year to you and yours, Alison!!

[@Bob-ml1mv]

I sprinkle light brown sugar on top

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Bob - that's a great idea !

[@keithcantrell3921]

Dip cup in sugar (use a old juice cup with a design on bottom)

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Great idea! Thanks!

[@gregbudig5014]

Well then... Happy Valentine's Day. See you next Easter!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Greg! Happy Valentine's Day!! Easter will be here before you know it - and maybe spring along with it! Hope you didn't get too much snow! We've just dug out here in Michigan! Thanks!

[@silverbubbles4728]

Thanks for the recipe & THANKS for posting the ingredients in the description box! Hi Maryann, your do'n a great job filming. You go girl!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Silver Bubbles!! You're welcome and Marianne says "thanks!"

[@MichaelSmith-jc8bq]

I was wondering if you could sprinkle brown sugar on top of them I exclusively use my homemade brown sugar in my baking and like using it when I can in a recipe

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Michael - I think you could sprinkle a little of your brown sugar on top. It may create a little design on the top from the color, but I think it would give a nice flavor. Thanks!

[@sharonhines9698]

Hi Kevin and Maryann! These cookies sound tasty! Say hi to Ralph! Hope to see you soon!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Sharon!! Great to hear from you!! Thanks!

[@catherinegammons6030]

Hi Kevin! I made these the other day and they came out great! But I must've done something wrong either with the recipe or the storage, and I wonder if you could help me out? After they cooled down I put them in little Tupperware containers and left them on the counter, and the next day the tops were soggy! I've never had a cookie do that before 😱 The only recipe change I did was use butter instead of shortening. I want to try again and see if they keep better in the fridge, but I figured I'd ask in case you already know how to avoid soggy cookies. Either way, thanks so much for the video!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Catherine! I'm glad you made these and they turned out well for you! Hmmm - not sure why the tops got soggy in the Tupperware. Were the cookies completely cool before you sealed them in the container? I put mine in an old tin that a fruitcake came in, and I've not experienced the soggy tops. I don't think it would have had anything to do with using butter instead of the shortening. Sorry I don't have a good answer. Maybe next time, store some in the fridge and see if that makes a difference. Thanks!

[@vintageadventureswithrobert]

Howdy and hello Kevin, I just started to make some cupcakes with my 1925 Everhot Mini oven and I am using some Krusteaz mixes as practice until I get using the oven better over time. I am going to start a KZbin channel sometime soon and it will feature me cooking with the mini oven from time to time. And I will show my small collection of mixers and other equipment I have collected for quite a while. I would like to get my 1920's Hotpoint oven working better. But that is another day. It is good to see you once again and I know you have more wonderful recipes coming soon in the weeks to come. I hope you will reply to me and give me the recipe in the reply. As a parting note I want to tell you I got a 1930's egg cooker a week or two ago.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Robert - nice to hear from you and it's great that you are baking in your Everhot mini oven! I think once you get used to it you will be able to make some good things in it. The Krusteaz mixes are a good start! Looking forward to your KZbin channel!! It will be fun to see your collection! The recipe for these cookies is written out in the description of the video, so look there and you will get the entire recipe. Enjoy that egg cooker! Thanks!

[@sadnlonelywithoutmydaughter911]

I think this is the recipe an older lady gave me years ago but my old landlord illegally evicted me from my apt and stole everything I had. But she used butter. Butter makes everything better. I'm gonna make this tonight.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hope you try the cookies!

[@RugbyFootballer]

Say Kevin that plate you have in your hand when platting the cookie towards the end of the video looks a lot like Franciscan Springsong dinnerware pattern

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi RugbyFootballer - yes, you are correct! I have a set of Springsong china and use it often. Thanks!

[@fritzy1819]

I think cookies made with some shortening don't seem to spread out just right. I think the original Toll House cookie recipe was half butter or margarine and half shortening.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Herman - I didn't know that about Toll House cookies. I always remember the recipe calling for butter, but I think it originally came out in 1930's. Thanks!

[@johnting673]

Yay a new video from you guys ☺️ I always enjoy them thoroughly. I'll have to try these cookies, they look delish. Also, what another beautiful vintage stove, did you recently do a stove exchange? And if so, I must have missed that video.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi John! Thank you - this range is a 1951 Kelvinator and it's been in the kitchen for a while now. I'm thinking I'll do a stove exchange sometime this month...trying to decide which one I'd like to put into service. Thanks!

[@johnting673]

@@cavalcadeoffood that would be cool to see. They are always fun to see the process. And it would be awesome to see the Tappan Fabulous 400 if that's a possible swap dimension wise. The 60s are one of my favorites eras design wise. Space age and all that ☺️

[@tveyeonyou]

@@johnting673 wow! the Tappan Fabulous 400!!! What I grew up with. Kevin actually just came to my parents' rescue by helping me find one for sale on facebook -- yay Kevin!!!!!

[@johnting673]

@@tveyeonyou oh wow that's awesome. That and the Frigidaire Flair Custom Imperial are my 2 top favorites However there are so many beauties from that era

[@jenniferhart7026]

Yay!! The light above the stove is so sweet!! Does the steam from the stovetop bother it? Or do you use the other “stove top” ?

[@johnhpalmer6098]

The steam when it is present should not be an issue. Your stove hood would experience the same thing. This is a set so it's not used as often as his real kitchens. He does periodically switch out the stoves for a different one, and has an insert for the 30" ranges. As for that Kevinator, it may only have the one oven. The other may be for storage. It depends on the configuration of the stove and who made it and whether it's a deluxe model or not.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Jennifer! I had that fixture for years and it helps throw some additional light over the cooking surface. The cooking from the stove top doesn't bother it at all. I have pretty good ventilation in that corner of the building. I didn't put in an exhaust fan because of the noise, but there is plenty of airflow above the studio for this purpose. Thanks!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi John - that 1951 Kelvinator is a double oven, and both work nicely. It's been rare, but I have used both at the same time and they both heat fairly evenly. Thanks!

[@johnhpalmer6098]

@@cavalcadeoffood Thanks Kevin, I saw the video where you put it in, but could not recall if it was a double oven or not, hence, I said it may have 2 or if not, tone was for storage. 🙂

[@allenwayne2033]

Was beginning to become concerned about you guys!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Allen - it has been a busy start of the year but glad we could get back in the kitchen! Thanks!

[@annmariejones12110]

WHY would you flatten them

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Ann Marie - so they are all the same thickness and bake up the same way. Thanks!

[@samsungtablet9155]

The oven you used is my nannys. Can you give me the make and model number

[@cavalcadeoffood]

It is a 1951 Kelvinator. I don't have the model number.

[@roddieforgey1277]

😞 P r o m o s m!!

[@hanscraig1850]

Ok ill bite I thought that range was a double oven!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Hans - that '51 Kelvinator does have two ovens, but I only used one making these cookies. I can get two sheet pans in the larger oven, and it does a nice baking job. Hope all is well!!

[@hanscraig1850]

@@cavalcadeoffood We are trying to stay healthy!!