Description
The Best Butter Cookies are rich, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. This easy recipe uses simple ingredients and a secret touch of milk powder to create cookies with exceptional flavor and a delicate crumb. Perfect for holidays, tea time, or gifting, these cookies strike the perfect balance of sweetness and texture every time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2⅛ cups (260 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (100 g) white granulated sugar
- 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (33 g) whole milk powder
- 1 tsp whole milk (optional, only if dough is firm)
- 1 cup milk chocolate melts or chips (optional for dipping)
- Sprinkles for decoration (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine flour and salt. Set aside.
- Cream softened butter and sugar together for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add egg yolks, vanilla extract, and milk powder. Mix on low speed until well combined.
- Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Check dough consistency. If too stiff, fold in 1 teaspoon of milk.
- Transfer dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (Ateco 849 or 827) and pipe small rosettes onto baking sheets.
- Chill piped cookies for 30 minutes to help them keep their shape.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until edges turn lightly golden. Bake longer for crispier cookies.
- Cool on trays for 30 minutes to firm up before dipping in melted chocolate (if desired).
- Decorate with sprinkles while the chocolate is still soft. Let set completely before storing.
Notes
- Use room-temperature butter and egg yolks for a smooth, even dough.
- Chill cookies before baking to prevent spreading.
- Weigh ingredients for the most accurate and consistent results.
- Cookies taste even better the next day as flavors deepen.
- If using a convection oven, bake at 320°F (160°C).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Cookies, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 34 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 23 mg
Keywords: The Best Butter Cookies, butter cookie recipe, buttery cookies, bakery butter cookies, melt-in-your-mouth cookies, holiday cookies, easy butter cookies