Description
Old Fashioned Butter Cookies are a classic holiday treat featuring a tender yet crisp texture with a rich buttery flavor. These easy-to-make cookies are perfect for festive occasions, cookie exchanges, or gifting during the Christmas season. Piped into elegant swirls and baked to golden perfection, they can be optionally dipped in melted chocolate and decorated with sprinkles for extra festive flair.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
- ¾ cup white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
Optional Chocolate Coating
- Chocolate morsels (quantity as desired for dipping)
- Sprinkles (optional, for decoration)
Instructions
- Prepare to Chill Dough: Clear space in your refrigerator for chilling the cookie dough. Line 2 to 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats; greasing is not necessary.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl to ensure even mixing.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract on high speed until fully incorporated. Scrape down the bowl again.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the salt and all-purpose flour to the bowl. Mix on low speed until the dough just starts to come together. Increase speed to high and beat until fully combined.
- Add Milk for Dough Consistency: Beat in 1 ½ tablespoons of milk on medium speed. The dough should be creamy and pipe-able but still thick. Add more milk, up to 2 ½ tablespoons total, if necessary to achieve the right consistency.
- Pipe or Scoop Cookies: Transfer the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe 1-2 inch swirls onto prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart. Alternatively, use a cookie scoop to portion the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Place the baking sheets with the arranged cookie dough in the refrigerator to chill for about 30 minutes. This helps maintain shape while baking.
- Preheat Oven: While chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and position the rack in the center.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the chilled cookies for 12-15 minutes until the edges are just turning golden brown.
- Cool the Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional Chocolate Decoration: Melt chocolate morsels in a microwave-safe bowl by heating in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until smooth. Dip the cooled cookies into the melted chocolate and, if desired, add sprinkles on top. Let the chocolate set at room temperature for 1 hour or chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
Notes
- Old Fashioned Butter Cookies are a Christmas favorite, known for their crisp edges and tender centers.
- These cookies are excellent for holiday gifting, cookie exchanges, or festive celebrations.
- Chilling the dough before baking is essential to maintain the piped shapes and prevent spreading.
- Using a piping bag with a star tip creates beautiful, classic swirl shapes.
- The optional chocolate dip and sprinkles add a festive touch but can be skipped for a simple buttery cookie.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 138 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 53 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 27 mg
