Golden Butter Bliss: Easy Homemade Butter Cookies

Butter Cookies Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Yield: Approximately 40 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 7/8 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
• 7/8 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease two cookie sheets thoroughly or line them with parchment paper.

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2. Prepare the Dough:

   • In a food processor, add the all-purpose flour.
   • Add the cold, diced unsalted butter to the flour in the food processor.

3. Blend Until Crumbly:

   • Pulse the mixture in the food processor until it resembles breadcrumbs and the butter is evenly distributed.

4. Add Sugar, Egg Yolks, and Vanilla:

   • Add the confectioners’ sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla extract to the food processor.

5. Process Until Smooth:

   • Process everything together until a smooth dough forms. This usually takes a minute or two of pulsing.

6. Chill the Dough:

   • Remove the dough from the food processor and wrap it in plastic wrap.
   • Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Chilling helps the dough firm up and makes it easier to roll out.

7. Roll and Cut:

   • After chilling, flour a clean surface and roll out the cookie dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
   • Use cookie cutters of your choice to cut out shapes (rounds or squares are traditional for butter cookies).

8. Bake:

   • Place the cut-out cookies onto the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them slightly apart.
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 6 to 10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are just beginning to turn golden brown. Be careful not to over-bake.

9. Cool:

   • Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the cookie sheets for a few minutes.
   • After they have slightly cooled and firmed up, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

10. Serve or Store:

    • Serve your butter cookies plain or decorate them with icing or melted chocolate, if desired.
    • Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Nutritional Information (per serving of 2 cookies):

• Calories: 148.3
• Total Fat: 8.6g
  • Saturated Fat: 5.3g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 40.2mg
• Sodium: 2.2mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 16.1g
  • Dietary Fiber: 0.4g
  • Sugars: 5.2g
• Protein: 1.8g

Recipe Notes:

• Butter: Using cold butter and cutting it into small pieces ensures that the butter is evenly distributed throughout the dough, which contributes to the cookie’s texture.

• Chilling the Dough: This step is crucial as it allows the gluten in the flour to relax and the butter to solidify again, making the dough easier to handle and roll out without sticking.

• Baking Time: The baking time can vary depending on your oven and the thickness of your cookies. Keep a close eye on them after the 6-minute mark to prevent over-browning.

• Storage: These butter cookies store well in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. They also freeze beautifully if you want to make them ahead of time or have leftovers.

• Variations: Feel free to customize these cookies by adding lemon or orange zest to the dough for a citrusy twist, or by dipping them in melted chocolate and sprinkling with nuts or colored sugar before the chocolate sets.

These butter cookies are perfect for any occasion, from holiday gatherings to afternoon tea. Their melt-in-your-mouth texture and buttery flavor will make them a favorite in your household. Enjoy baking and sharing these delightful treats with your loved ones! 🍪