The Best Butter Cookies Recipe
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Butter Cookies are simple, flavorful cookies loved for holidays and parties. Soft, delicious homemade cookies that are easily made and are always a classic favorite.
The Best Butter Cookies are a classic cookie recipe that never goes out of style and works perfectly for any menu, celebration or just because! I have made them for years for everything from showers to birthdays to Christmas parties. Butter Cookies are perfectly delicious and appropriate for so many types of entertaining!
Butter Cookies
If you have the image in your mind of those hard little round cookies from the grocery store, then you are in for a pleasant treat when you make these butter cookies. These are rich, buttery, delicious and somewhat addictive in the way that it’s hard to stop at just one!
While they are also delicious without the buttercream, they are just a bit more festive with a dollop of buttercream in colors and flavors to suit the occasion or the season. My fluffy white buttercream is beautiful at Christmas or for a wedding shower. The strawberry buttercream, looks beautiful for baby showers, Mother’s Day, birthdays or Easter. And then there’s chocolate! Personally I think my chocolate buttercream is suited to any kind of party or celebration – or just because. It’s amazing!
These cookies are so easy to make too! Yet despite how simple they are to make, the little bit of frosting on top makes them so elegant.
My butter cookies recipe makes four dozen small cookies or two dozen larger sized cookies. This is so helpful so that you decide just what size you need for your event. And it’s also a perfect amount for having them to include on Christmas Cookie Trays or cookie gift boxes to share with friends.
Now, I am far from a professional cake or cookie decorator and I have to remind myself not to be overly critical of my frosting swirls on top of these cookies. But as I walk in to any party with them in hand, no one else seems to care that the swirl isn’t exactly perfect on top. I love people like that! 🙂
Here’s my butter cookie recipe. It seriously will become a favorite! Hope you love it!
Butter Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.65 g) Kosher salt
- 3/4 cup (170 g) butter, softened
- 1 cup (198 g) sugar
- 1 large (50 g) egg
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Add flour, baking powder, and salt to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
- Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg until well-combined. Slowly spoon in flour mixture mixing on medium speed until well-combined, then add vanilla and mix just until combined.
- Scoop cookie dough by the tablespoon onto a large baking sheet, leaving about 2-inches between each cookie. Press down on cookie dough ball lightly with the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass until about 1/2-inch thick. Bake 10-13 minutes until lightly browned.
- Cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Do you have a recipe for the frosting?
Phyllis, the frosting is my Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe. I hope you enjoy the cookies.
WOW!! THESE TASTE LIKE THEY’RE STORE BOUGHT BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY HOMEMADE JUST FROM SOME INGREDIENTS!!!! YOU SHOULD OPEN UP YOUR OWN BAKERY SOMETIMES!! 5 STAR RATING
Thanks, Lila. I had rather just cook at home and share my recipes with everyone. So glad you love these cookies.
Simply delicious! It was the perfect dessert for our family cookout. The colors were soft, not too sweet and definitely addictive. Family hit!!
That is great, Tasha. So glad they were a hit with your family. A family cookout sounds like fun.
OMG, these cookies came out amazing! I made these at home a few times and every time they came out marvelous. Am really looking forward to making more of you fantastic recipes!
I’m so happy you enjoyed these cookies and hope you find many more recipes you like. Thank you.
Can you put these through a cookie press?
I haven’t tried using a cookie press with these cookies, Sharon.
Best cookies ever, thanks
So glad you enjoyed them, Durwin! Thanks!
approx how many cookies does this recipe for butter cookies make?
Amazing! My family and friends ate them up so fast I only got one or two. And that was just the plain ones. Tonight I am going to make some and dip them in chocolate one side and try a few with a dollop of seedless raspberry jam (like a thumbprint cookie). I would give these a 10 out of 10 they are not too sweet, but just perfect with a cup of tea.
Thanks so much Debbie!
Hi Robyn,
This looks really good! I’d like to try making these for the holidays. Can I make this with half the amount of ingredients? I’m worried 1 egg might be too much if I do (can’t really cut an egg in half, lol).
Patricia
You can cut the recipe in half, but still use one egg (it won’t be too much). Enjoy them Patty! xo