A timeless favorite, these vanilla butter cookies are tender and buttery with a hint of vanilla and optional lemon zest.
150 minutes
A timeless favorite, these vanilla butter cookies are tender and buttery with a hint of vanilla and optional lemon zest.
Unsalted Butter, softened
0.25 sticks
cups
teaspoons
teaspoons
Lemon Zest, optional
teaspoons
Egg, room temperature
each
teaspoons
Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
cups
1. Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar
Begin by creaming together the softened butter and sugar using a mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Add Wet Ingredients
Add the vanilla extract, salt, and lemon zest if you're using it. Crack in the egg, which should be at room temperature, and pour in the milk. Beat everything together until well combined.
4. Incorporate Flour
Gradually add the flour, stirring gently until just incorporated. Avoid overmixing to ensure the cookies remain tender.
5. Shape and Chill Dough
Divide the dough and shape it into logs with a diameter of about 1.5 inches. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and chill them in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
6. Slice and Bake
Once the dough is chilled, unwrap the logs and slice them into rounds about 0.25 inch thick. Place the slices on lined baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Transfer the cookies to the preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes, or until they are golden at the edges.
7. Cool and Enjoy
Allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack and enjoy the classic buttery, vanilla flavor.
Instead of using regular softened butter, brown the butter until it's nutty and fragrant. Allow it to cool and solidify slightly before using. This will add a toffee-like flavor to your cookies.
Add chocolate chips to the core vanilla butter cookie dough. You can use milk, white, or dark chocolate chips, or a combination of them.
Replace a small portion of the flour with unsweetened cocoa powder (start with 2 tablespoons) for a chocolatey version of the classic cookie.
Incorporate bits of caramel into the dough and finish with a light sprinkle of sea salt before baking.
Add the zest of one lemon or orange to the dough for a bright, citrusy flavor. This pairs wonderfully with the vanilla and gives the cookies a refreshing twist.
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