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Classic Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Cookies (Easy Recipe)

A stack of golden brown, star-shaped butter cookies resting on a white plate near a window.

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Make classic, buttery cookies that melt in your mouth using simple pantry ingredients. This easy recipe works perfectly for scooping or piping, making it ideal for holidays or everyday snacking.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Beat the softened butter and sugar together in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes with an electric mixer.
  2. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
  5. If you plan to pipe the cookies, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. If you plan to scoop, you can proceed immediately.
  6. For scooped cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing them 2 inches apart.
  7. For piped cookies: Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe desired shapes onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
  8. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
  9. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • For a Danish butter cookie flavor similar to the blue tin, use 1/2 teaspoon almond extract along with the vanilla extract.
  • If you want soft butter cookies, slightly reduce the baking time to 10 minutes.
  • You can dip the cooled cookies halfway into melted chocolate and add sprinkles for a festive touch.

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