Butter Cookies are buttery, tender cookies that can be enjoyed as-is with a cup of coffee or tea or as a base for decorating holiday cookies. These are piped out into a swirl shape and are similar to spritz cookies. Both can be customizable to your festivities or occasion.
Butter Cookies
Butter Cookies are synonymous with Christmas cookies (remember the blue tin?), and I wanted to find a recipe as easy as possible. Once I saw OwlBBaking’s soft butter cookies, I knew they were a winner. I know how busy the holiday season can be, so a cookie recipe that does not take all day with no chilling time works for me (and it will for you)! However, you will still get a buttery cookie that is sturdy enough to decorate. I plan to dip each cookie in chocolate ganache made with butter with some added sprinkles, which I plan to add to my Christmas dessert charcuterie board.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Butter: Since these are butter cookies, you will need butter, of course! In fact, you will need 2 sticks of unsalted butter. The ratio of butter and all-purpose flour is the perfect combination for a solid cookie recipe.
Sugar: Granulated sugar is creamed with butter until light and fluffy.
Eggs: You will just add egg yolks to the cookie dough; it helps make the dough easier to work with. But, don’t waste the egg whites, which can be used in another recipe like Fried Ice Cream.
Milk: Add about a tablespoon of milk at a time to the dough, or until the dough is pliable, but still sticky.
Can I Make the Dough Ahead of Time?
Sure! If you want to get the cookie dough made in advance, you can store it in the refrigerator, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 3 days. Or, freeze the dough. To freeze, first, get the dough mixed together. Next, pipe out the cookie dough onto a lined baking sheet. Then, place the sheet of cookie dough into the freezer until solid (1-2 hours). Once solid, store the piped cookie dough in a freezer-safe bag that is labeled, dated, and includes the baking instructions. When ready to bake, just add a couple of minutes to the baking time, no need to thaw first.
Can I Make Butter Cookies Without a Piping Bag?
Yes! If you don’t have a piping bag, you could simply add dollops of the dough onto the lined baking sheet to bake. They won’t have the lovely swirl shape, but will still be delicious and easy to decorate!
How to Store Butter Cookies
Once the cookies have been baked, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They will last up to a week. You can also freeze the baked cookies. First, let them cool completely. Then, store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. They could possibly last longer, but the taste may be affected the longer they are stored. For more tips, check out my Guide to Freezing, Baking, and Storing Cookies.
Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, room temperature (which is slightly cool)
- ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2-3 tablespoons whole milk, room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer on medium speed, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg yolks and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the flour and salt.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix on low until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Working 1 tablespoon at a time, add milk until the mixture is sticky, thick, and well combined. Set aside.
- This is a very thick batter, so you will need a heavy-duty piping bag, or you can use the double bag method. To do that you will need two piping bags, one fitted with a large star tip and one that has not been cut. Transfer the batter to the piping bag with no tip. Clip the tip of that bag and place it inside the second piping bag that is fitted with the star tip.
- Pipe the batter into a circular pattern onto the lined baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch in between each cookie.
- Bake 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Let the cookies cool completely before decorating.
Video
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
I wanted to try this recipe but half way through the method part, a huge black ad popped up and covered the recipe, and I could no longer see it. If this continues, I see no reason why I shouldn’t unsubscribe.
Hi Kathy. Sorry that was your experience. Please do feel free to X out of any ad that pops up. Unfortunately, with this being election season and then holiday shopping, the ads seem to get more personalized and aggressive. I always try to keep as minimal amount as I can. (The ads are what keep my website free to you.)
Harsh comment. Take a picture, problem solved
What a weird way to say “thanks for the free recipe”
I’ve often been curious about a recipe calling for unsalted butter and then adding salt. Can I just use salted butter and not add more salt?
There are many more reasons why I used unsalted butter in my baking! Here is all the information 🙂
https://iambaker.net/salted-butter-vs-unsalted-butter/
Has anyone ever sprinkled these with sanding sugar? I think it’d be great added texture.
My kid is allergic to egg. What can I use as a substitution?
Here are some options:
https://iambaker.net/egg-substitutes/
Do you think it would work to use orange or lemon zest in place of the vanilla? Or just add the zest to the recipe as it is now?
You could just add zest to the existing recipe. But sometimes zest can get caught in the decorating tips (what is used to create the design) so just be aware of that. 🙂
I’m making these today! I’d like to add some sugar crystals on top. Should I add before I bake them? Thanks, and wish me luck!
Your site is always my “go to” when searching for some ideas. I’m not a very good cook or baker and very much appreciate these easy delicious recipes. Thank you
That is an honor, Anne! Thank you for trusting me! 💛
Could this be used for cutou cookies?
I would use this for cutout cookies
https://iambaker.net/christmas-cookies-cookie-recipe/
Can I use salted butter and omit the salt
You could, but please taste test the dough. You may still need a pinch of salt as it isn’t wise to rely on the salt in the butter for recipe perfection. Lots more information here:
https://iambaker.net/salted-butter-vs-unsalted-butter/
Love didn’t have kosher salt because I can’t use it with blood pressure but they still got good 3 years culinary school are used a little bit of drops of lemon
How large are/what is the diameter of the cookies you’ve made? I’m hoping to get more than 16 cookies from each batch so please advise. Anyone who has feedback on this question, please help! Thanks so much.