Butter cookies 😌—simple, rich, and dangerously easy to eat by the handful. Here’s a classic, foolproof butter cookie recipe.
Classic Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.
- Cream butter & sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
- Beat in egg and vanilla.
- Mix in flour and salt just until combined.
- Pipe or scoop dough onto baking sheet
- For classic swirls: use a piping bag with a star tip
- Chill dough 15–20 minutes (helps keep shape).
- Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool on pan 5 minutes, then transfer to rack.
Optional Upgrades ✨
- Danish-style: Sprinkle sugar on top before baking
- Chocolate-dipped: Dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate
- Lemon: Add 1 tsp lemon zest
- Almond: Swap vanilla for almond extract