The smell of fresh butter cookies right out of the oven is just excellent and heartwarming.
Baking cookies is one of my favorite activities during the Holiday Season. Butter cookies are buttery, tender cookies that can be enjoyed by themselves or with your favorite cup of tea or coffee.
Soft and rich in flavor, those delicious butter cookies will become your holiday standard.
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With the help of only five ingredients, which are staples in your pantry, and twenty minutes from beginning to end, you will enjoy pure bliss.
They make the best hostess gift or cookie exchange.
In this Article
Why you will love this recipe
You only need 5 ingredients to create this recipe and I am sure all are already in your pantry.
Takes 20 mintes from begging to end which is perfect if you have last minute guest coming over.
Party perfect as everyone will love how flavorful and delicate they are.
The perfect baking with children recipe. Your little one will love to create those wonderful sweet gems.
What makes Butter Cookies so unique?
Soft tender and only 5 ingredients, one being water. Those little divine morsels of sweet goodness will please everyone in your family.
Adding a hint of almond extract and will bring those cookies to the next level.
Bite into those soft pillowy cookies, and you will never be the same. Delicate and full of flavor.
Your house will have that wonderful scent that will lead everyone to your kitchen. However, watch out as they seem to disappear when left unattended.
Ingredients needed to make these butter cookies
Unsalted butter – I always use unsalted butter in my cooking or baking to control the amount of sodium. Salted butter not only adds too much salt to your dish, but it changes the flavor.
Flour – All-purpose, unbleached. Sift before using.
Sugar – granulated sugar
Almond extract – gives it a wonderful flavor to the cookies
Water – to keep your cookies moist
Equipment Needed
Please follow the link to access the product of your preference.
Mixing bowl – to combine all your ingredients
Cookie sheet – to bake your cookies
Fork – to create the indent on the top of. your cookies
Sturdy and dishwasher safe, the best combination
Baking tips
Work all the ingredients in a bowl. The butter will tend to soften, so do not manipulate it too long.
Those cookies should not look golden on the top at all. As you know your oven best, the timing guides you.
Do press lightly with the fork, but do not go through.
Use a Silpat or parchment sheet to cover your cookie sheet.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! if you want to make the cookie dough ahead of time, you can store it in the refrigerator, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to two days.
How to store butter cookies
Once the cookies are baked, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
I am not particularly eager to freeze them as they will lose the buttery softness once defrosted.
Pro Tips
- Make many of them, as they tend to disappear under your watchful eyes.
- Do not play too long with the dough, as the butter will melt between your fingers and make it difficult to shape your cookies.
If you enjoyed these butter cookies, you may want to try my other recipes;
Dried Cranberry Chocolate Cookies – The Best Recipe Ever
Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups flour
Instructions
- Add ingredients, flour last, and work with a fork. Make little balls and flatten with the back of a fork in a buttered cookie sheet.
- Bake at 325° for 10 minutes.
Nutrition
Giangi’s Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.
- Course: Desserts
- Cuisine: American
- Type: Under 45 minutes
Did you make this?
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Recipe originally published on 12/21/2012
Leslie Todd
Do you measure then sift the flour, or sift then measure for the butter cookies?
Giangi Townsend
Hi Leslie, I do measure then sift the flour.
Enjoy!
Lee
I will definitely try this recipe! Thanks!
Giangi Townsend
My pleasure and enjoy!
Rosanna Stevens
These sound lovely. And very easy! I’ll definitely try them. I love the smell of baking in my home too
Giangi Townsend
Thank you! Nothing like the smell of cookies or any baking for that matter.
Enjoy!