Grandma's Secret Butter Cookies (Printable Version)

Tender, buttery cookies that melt in your mouth with delicate sweetness. Perfect for tea time or festive occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

→ Wet Ingredients

03 - 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
04 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1 large egg yolk
06 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Optional Finishing

07 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar, for dusting

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together. Do not overmix.
06 - Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
07 - Gently press each ball with the tines of a fork or the bottom of a glass to flatten slightly.
08 - Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just turning golden. Avoid overbaking for optimal texture.
09 - Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Dust cooled cookies lightly with powdered sugar if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dough comes together in minutes but tastes like something that took all afternoon
  • They manage to be both fancy enough for a dinner party and simple enough for a Tuesday afternoon craving
02 -
  • Room temperature butter is non-negotiable here, as cold butter creates a completely different texture that does not melt the same way
  • These cookies continue baking on the hot sheet after coming out of the oven, so pull them when they look slightly underdone
03 -
  • Chilling the dough for thirty minutes before baking helps the cookies keep their shape better if your kitchen runs warm
  • Using a cookie scoop instead of spoons ensures perfectly uniform cookies that bake at the same rate

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