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.

Butter Cookies Recipe | ©addapinch.com

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 Recipe | ©addapinch.com

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.

Butter Cookies Recipe | ©addapinch.com

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! 🙂

Butter Cookies Recipe | ©addapinch.com

Here’s my butter cookie recipe. It seriously will become a favorite! Hope you love it!

Butter Cookies Recipe

4.93 from 14 votes
Butter Cookies make the perfect addition for easy, elegant entertaining. From showers, birthday parties, graduations, weddings, to family picnics, these butter cookies will become a favorite!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies

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

For the roundest of cookies, you can roll them between your palms before dropping onto the baking sheet. Then, lightly press as directed before baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 125IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Recipe Review




77 Comments

    1. Phyllis, the frosting is my Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe. I hope you enjoy the cookies.

  1. 5 stars
    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

    1. Thanks, Lila. I had rather just cook at home and share my recipes with everyone. So glad you love these cookies.

  2. 5 stars
    Simply delicious! It was the perfect dessert for our family cookout. The colors were soft, not too sweet and definitely addictive. Family hit!!

    1. That is great, Tasha. So glad they were a hit with your family. A family cookout sounds like fun.

  3. 5 stars
    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!

    1. I’m so happy you enjoyed these cookies and hope you find many more recipes you like. Thank you.

  4. 5 stars
    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.

  5. 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

    1. You can cut the recipe in half, but still use one egg (it won’t be too much). Enjoy them Patty! xo