Why do cooks guard family recipes? Recipes can be one of the binds that tie families together, bringing back memories of special dinners, celebrations or holidays. They may have been passed down through the generations, and now that family is known for bringing that dish to every potluck, and heaven help the cook who decides to experiment. The particular combination of ingredients is top secret and seemingly cannot be replicated to the satisfaction of the taste buds which have enjoyed said dish their whole lives. Maybe the chef enjoys the accolades, maybe she has been sworn to secrecy.
Why would we share ours? Oh, the memories connected to this dough recipe are so plentiful! I don't remember Mom ever telling me or showing me how to roll the dough just right, but I do it exactly the way she did. I do remember her teaching me to place the cutters just so on the dough so as little as possible was wasted. I remember the red cutters she had, because she gave them to me, and I used them to make the same cookies with the same recipe alongside my kids.
Even though that was before Family Cookie Cutters was founded, those times we were gathered in the kitchen are the foundation of our business. We laughed, we created, we learned about life, measuring (math), mixing colors (art) culinary skills and each other. We want to help your family grow closer and have memories to cherish like ours, so we are willing to give this cherished hand-me-down to you.
We also unabashedly believe it's the best recipe for cut-out cookies in terms of ease to make, best tasting and easiest to handle. This belief has been reinforced by word of mouth from friends and customers with whom we have shared it. Maybe it's the sour cream mixed with baking soda, maybe it's the chilling, maybe it's the shortening or the four cups of flour instead of three. We really don't know for sure; we just know this is the recipe we've used for over 50 years in our family whether Mom is trying to get a good cut with clean impressions or the kids are "helping" make mini works of art in wild colors with all the sprinkles.
On a sentimental note, I love that my mom wrote out the recipe for us. When I look through the recipe box and pull it out, I'm reminded of growing up and all she taught me. I also reminisce about raising our kids and passing on those lessons to them around our kitchen table. This recipe means family; may it bless you with many hours of memories with you and yours!
Just in case Grandma's handwriting is giving you trouble:
Sour Cream Cookies
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda in cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 cups flour
Directions:
1. Mix some cream and baking soda, set aside.
2. Combine the sugar, shortening, egg, salt, vanilla and baking powder; mix well.
3. Add flour a cup at a time, then add sour cream.
4. Chill.
5. Roll out on a well floured surface.
6.. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.
Dough behaves the best when it's chilled overnight. Also remember to flour your dough surface and cookie cutters for best results.
For no-ice cookies with multicolored dough, follow these directions.
Also note Mom calls it Sour Cream Cookies; I think you've probably already figured out why. She also called it her cut-out cookie recipe, which I reference above. However, I used sugar cookie in the title, because that's what most people call them. Maybe using sour cream in our cookies is what makes our family (and now maybe yours) unique ;).