Grandma recipe for old fashioned southern Butter Cookies are a family favorite. These cookies are a sweet snack for the kids and delicious with coffee or tea! This classic butter cookie recipe is simple to make with minimal ingredients and are certain showstoppers!
Next time try the Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies recipe!
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Why you'll love this recipe
What is your favorite cookie? I have some wonderful cookies on the blog - chocolate moon pies, Persimmon Cookies, and 4 ingredient peanut butter cookies. I also have tasty treats like Blueberry Parfait and Great Grandma Darnell's Blueberry Cobbler! Lots of tasty family recipes I'm proud to share!
Today I have one more sweet treat.
✔️ These are great cookies, they are slightly sweet, beautiful cookies that are delicious with tea or coffee.
✔️ Roll them in pretty sprinkles for the holiday season or any occasion.
✔️ They make the perfect Christmas cookies!
Ingredients
- butter
- sugar
- egg
- pure vanilla extract
- flour
- baking powder
- decorating sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Soften the butter.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cream together butter and sugar.
- Add the egg and mix.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder.
- Add to the creamed mixture in spoonfuls until completely incorporated.
- Cover and chill for at least an hour.
- Roll into one inch balls. Roll in plain sugar or brightly colored decorating sugar.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
FAQ's
The difference between a shortbread and butter cookies recipe is a higher ratio of butter in the butter cookies. A butter cookie will hardly crumble and also can be rolled if you want to use a cookie-cutter. The butter gives a ton of flavor for a rich, dense cookie.
Creaming room temperature butter with the sugar will result in cookies with a texture that is more cake-like. If you refrigerate the dough before baking the cookies won't spread as much. When the butter is cold it takes longer to melt!
No, use room temperature butter. Allow the butter to sit outside the refrigerator at least 15 minutes before creaming
Not long in our house! 😋 Seriously though homemade butter cookies will last 2-3 weeks.
Yes, these cookies will freeze beautifully. Store in an airtight container or ziplock bag for two to three months.
Equipment
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These are the baking sheets I love and these little scoops are perfect for scooping the cookie dough!
Related recipes
More delicious treats to feed your sweet tooth!
- Easy Shortbread Cookies with Confetti
- Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons
- Soft and Chewy White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies Recipe
- 3 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies
- Grandma's Gumdrop Cookies
Butter Sugar Cookie Recipe
Butter cookies are simple to make with minimal ingredients and are certain showstoppers! Grandma's recipe didn't include rolling them in sugar, but that added a special touch and made them so pretty! Wouldn't you agree?
Now don’t forget if you make this be sure and tag me on Instagram at @bowl_me_over or #bowlmeover, I’d love to see your awesome pictures!
Also if you love these yummy cookies, be sure to comment and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below, I’d love to hear from you!
Best Butter Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup softened butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup decorating sugar optional
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Instructions
- Be sure the butter is completely softened and room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and mix until completely combined.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder. Add to the creamed butter/sugar/egg in spoonfuls until completely incorporated.
- Cover and chill for at least one hour. Roll into small balls. Using a 1 inch cookie scoop makes it easy to keep the cookies uniform in size. Roll in plain sugar or brightly colored decorating sugar.
- Place onto cookie sheet. Using the back of a spoon, press down to slightly flatten. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
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Don't worry, we'll never share your email.Recipe backstory
Dan's Mom gave me Grandma Bertha's recipe box and I've been having fun going through all the recipes. Though I never met Dan's Grandma, I hear she had quite the sweet tooth! I think I did her proud sharing her recipe and these photographs!
Dan is so happy I picked this recipe to share! He has the best memories of time with his Grandma. One story he shared, was when he had a summer internship and he stayed with his Grandma in Lodi, CA. Every day she would pack his lunch before he went to work.
The position was a desk job, but Grandma packed his lunch like he'd be doing physical labor all day long. His lunch was HUGE! Every day she would pack probably twice as much as he could comfortably eat, but of course, he ate it all.
Finally, one of his co-workers said, "son, you're gonna have to leave some lunch in the bag or she'll keep packing it full!"
You see, he didn't want to say something because he was afraid it would hurt Grandma's feelings! (Dan's a pretty wonderful guy - so sweet and caring! It's one of the things I love most about him!)
Liza
Wow! These cookies are SO SIMPLE and come out so impressively yummy! I am SO MAKING them asap! 🙂
Bowl Me Over
Enjoy Liza! I know your kids will love them!
Sandi
I love that these cookies can be any color. It makes them perfect for every holiday! I am glad these freeze well so I can make a double batch.
Bowl Me Over
Yes!! So pretty any time of the year - enjoy Sandi!
Nancy | The Bitter Side of Sweet
I haven't tried them yet but they look amazing!
Bowl Me Over
Please do Nancy, I think you'll love them as much as we do!
April
I can't get over how pretty these cookies are, with the pink sugar. They would be so good with a cup of coffee.
Bowl Me Over
Just perfect with coffee or tea April!!!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
You can never go wrong with a recipe from grandma. These look so tasty (and pretty)!
Bowl Me Over
Thank you Renee!!!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
Haha my grandma is the same way, always trying to feed you until you burst!
Bowl Me Over
That's awesome Erin!! 😀 Grandma's are the BEST! I sure miss mine!!!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
Perfect little butter cookies! Great with coffee too!
Bowl Me Over
Yes!! Perfect with coffee or tea Angie - thank you so much for stopping by!
Lois
The look just amazing. I can taste them from here.
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Lois they are just delicious - I'll save you a few! 🙂
Mary Lou Cochrane
These look really good. Beautiful photos too. I love your violet teacups. Thanks for sharing.
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Mary Lou!! The vessels holding these are so special! The two crystal ones are from Myrna, Grandma gave me one set of depression ware many years ago and the tea cups are Moms - Dan said this is just the kind of plates/cups his Grandma would have used. I just love this post and those cookies. Thank you!
Michelle Turner
Great story. Dan is as sweet as the cookies, for sure, a definite keeper. Can't wait to try the recipe.
Bowl Me Over
Thank you my friend - yes he's an absolute keep! 😀
The Food Hunter
These cookies look perfect! I can't wait to try them
Bowl Me Over
So yummy, enjoy!!! Thank you for stopping by!!