Grandma's Secret Butter Cookies (Printable)
Tender, buttery treats that melt in your mouth with delicate sweetness. Ready in under 30 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
→ Wet Ingredients
03 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
04 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1 large egg yolk
06 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Optional Finishing
07 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar, for dusting
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour and salt in a medium bowl until well blended.
03 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Mix in egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully incorporated into the butter mixture.
05 - Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients, mixing just until dough comes together. Do not overmix.
06 - Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
07 - Gently press each ball with fork tines or bottom of a glass to flatten slightly.
08 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are just turning golden. Avoid overbaking for tender texture.
09 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar once completely cooled, if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The texture is impossibly tender, practically dissolving on your tongue
- They come together in under 30 minutes with zero stress
- Everyone thinks you spent hours perfecting them
02 -
- Overbaking is the enemy, pull them out when they look slightly underdone
- Room temperature butter makes or breaks this recipe, cold butter creates dense cookies
- The dough firms up in the fridge, which helps them hold their shape
03 -
- Scoop all the dough before rolling so the cookies bake uniformly
- Chill the shaped dough for 15 minutes if your kitchen is warm