Butter Cookies Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Aimee 9 comments
Published: Dec 04, 2023 Last Updated: Dec 4, 2023

Butter Cookiesare the perfect Christmas cookie recipe, but you can enjoy them any time of year. Whether you pipe them, scoop them, or slice and bake these cookies, they’re melt in your mouth delicious!

Our readers are obsessed with theseShortbread Cookie Bites. All decked out for the holidays! They look beautiful on a plate withChocolate Fudge! Don’t forget to add a batch of ourwhipped shortbread cookiestoo, for some festive flair.

Why You’ll Love This Butter Cookies Recipe

Every year I have a huge list of holiday baking that I want to tackle starting on December 1st.

Whether I’m making my favoriteSugar Cookies,English Toffee, or7 Layer bars, I’m constantly in the kitchen.

The hardest part about what I do for a living is that every year my list gets longer. I want to make those traditional cookies I grew up on, likeSnowballsandKolachky cookies, but I also have a list of new cookie recipes I want to create.

Needless to say, everyone we know tends to get a platter ofChristmas CandyandChristmas Cookies!

Today’s butter cookie recipe is one of my newest favorites. Here’s why I love it and think you will too:

• You have options! You can scoop and bake them like you would any other drop cookie recipe, or you can pipe them to make them fancier or chill the dough in a log shape and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to slice and bake (like theseJingles cookies).
• There’s no need to chill the dough because they don’t spread!
• Although butter cookies are a classic for the holidays, you can use different colored sprinkles (or omit the sprinkles) and they’re perfect for any time of year and any occasion!

Regardless of HOW you make them, there’s one thing for sure, you WILL love them. They melt in your mouth like a buttery shortbread, but with a soft, chewy center and crisp edges. SO DELICIOUS.

Important Ingredients

• Unsalted butter – This allows you to control the amount of salt in the cookies. Since the butter is the key ingredient here, this is definitely a recipe where you might want to spring for a fancy name brand! Follow our guide on how to soften butter quickly.
• Egg yolk –An egg yolk adds richness to the dough.
• Vanilla extract and almond extract – A combination of vanilla and almond extract is common in sugar and butter cookie recipes. You can use extra vanilla extract in place of almond, but I do recommend almond extract—it has a fantastic cherry-like flavor!
• Ghirardelli dark chocolateor white chocolate wafers – These are formulated for melting and drizzling or dipping, unlike chocolate chips or bars.
• Sprinkles– Optional, but they’ll make your butter cookies extra festive.

How to Make Butter Cookies

Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat baking mat.

Make the Dough:

• Cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together in a large mixing bowl.
• Mix in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt.
• Slowly add the flour and mix to combine.

Bake the Butter Cookies:

• Use a small cookie scoop and drop about a tablespoon of cookie dough onto the baking sheet for each cookie. You can also use a large piping bag and open star tip if you prefer.
• Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Remove and cool completely on wire rack.

Decorate: Dip the cookies in melted chocolate and add sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. Let the chocolate set before storing or serving.

How to Pipe Butter Cookies

Prepare the Cookie sheet- I prefer to use NO parchment paper when piping butter cookies. Parchment works great if you’re going to scoop the dough, but when piping it’s tricky to get the dough to not stick while piping.

Tips-

1. Don’t make them too big. Smaller cookies are better and bake evenly.
2. If the dough is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of milk to make it a little more workable.
3. No need to chill the dough!

Recipe FAQs

More Cookie Recipes

• Twix Cookies
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• No Bake Cookies
• Lemon Butter Cookies
• Soft Molasses Cookies
• Chocolate Dipped Potato Chip Cookies
• Butterscotch Cookies
• Ricotta Cookies
• Pecan Sandies

Butter Cookies are the perfect Christmas cookie recipe, but can be enjoyed any time of year. Whether you pipe them, scoop them, or slice and bake these cookies, they’re melt in your mouth delicious!