These classic butter cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and incredibly easy to make. Perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- Cream the Butter and Sugar:
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
- Add Egg and Vanilla:
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt.
- Gradually Add Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Chill the Dough (Optional, but Recommended):
- For easier handling, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Preheat and Prepare:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Shape the Cookies:
- You have a few options for shaping:
- Drop Cookies: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.
- Slice-and-Bake: Roll the dough into logs, wrap in plastic wrap, chill, and then slice into rounds.
- Cut-Out Cookies: Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- You have a few options for shaping:
- Bake:
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool:
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. 10. Decorate (Optional):
- Once cooled, you can decorate the cookies with icing, sprinkles, or melted chocolate, if desired.
Tips and Variations:
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of almond extract or lemon zest to the dough.
- You can roll the dough in granulated sugar before baking for a sparkly finish.
- For a richer cookie, brown the butter before creaming it with the sugar.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- For a chocolate variation, add cocoa powder to the dry ingredients.
Enjoy your delicious homemade butter cookies!