Old-fashioned cookies are some of our favorites.
Made with butter (of course), sugar, and vanilla, these lovely little cookies melt in your mouth. They’re buttery, smooth, and delicious! And the cherry on top is bright, sweet, and festive.
This Butter Cookie Recipe is a delicious combination of a melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookie and a classic sugar cookie!
Homemade Melt-in-your-Mouth Cookies
- This cookie recipe uses simple ingredients to create a deliciously easy cookie.
- This prep is simple, no need to chill the dough. Just mix, roll into balls, top with a cherry, and bake.
- They can be made ahead of time and freeze well.
- And the cherry on top is the icing on the cake! It gives these cookies a little pop of color, making them perfect for Christmas cookie platters.
Ingredients & Variations
Cookie Dough – Some flour, unsalted butter, sugar, egg, and a dash of vanilla and almond extracts are the basics for this dough. For the best buttery flavor, don’t use any substitutes for the butter.
Cherries – The cherries used in this recipe are candied cherries (aka glace cherries or glazed cherries). These are different from maraschino cherries as they’re more sticky and not in liquid.
Variations – Switch out the cherries and drizzle the cookies with a chocolate glaze or dip them in melted chocolate. Sprinkle with a little colored sugar if you’d like.
How to Make Butter Cookies
Just a couple of simple steps to delicious cookies!
- Beat butter, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl or with a paddle attachment in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add in vanilla and egg, then flour.
- Roll into balls & flatten. Add cherries.
- Bake as per the recipe below. Cool on a wire rack.
Tips for the Best Butter Cookies
- Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature.
- Need soft butter now? Cut butter into pieces and microwave it at about 30% power for 20 seconds. Stir and continue to microwave just until softened. Be sure to keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t melt.
- Beat the butter and powdered sugar for at least 3 full minutes, this gives the cookie a lighter texture.
- Bake just until the very edges are a tiny bit golden brown.
- Storage: Butter Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 5 days or so. They will keep longer but they won’t be as soft. In the freezer, they will last for a few months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Did you make these Butter Cookies? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Butter Cookies
Made with real butter and sugar, these cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Beat butter, powdered sugar, and salt until very light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes.
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Mix in vanilla, almond extract, and egg. Add flour a little bit at a time until well mixed.
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Roll 1″ balls, leaving at least 2″ between cookies on the baking tray, and flatten slightly. Top with half of a cherry.
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Bake until lightly browned on the edges, about 12 minutes.
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Cool completely.
- Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature. Need soft butter now? Cut butter into pieces and microwave it at about 30% power for 20 seconds. Stir and continue to microwave just until softened. Be sure to keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t melt.
- Beat the butter and powdered sugar for at least 3 full minutes, this gives the cookie a lighter texture.
- Bake just until the very edges are a tiny bit golden brown.
- Storage: Butter Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 5 days or so. They will keep longer but they won’t be as soft. In the freezer, they will last for a few months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Calories: 93 | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 12mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 164IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
