Description
Grandma’s Best Butter Cookies embody a delightful Swedish tradition of simple, rich baking. Crisp edges and melt-in-mouth texture invite you to savor each buttery, golden bite.
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ¼ cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (30 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- Sanding sugar or sprinkles
- Melted chocolate for drizzling
Instructions
- Creaming: Whip softened butter with granulated and powdered sugars using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale, creating a smooth base for the cookies.
- Wet Ingredients Fusion: Incorporate egg and vanilla extract, blending until the mixture achieves a uniform, silky consistency that promises tender cookies.
- Dough Formation: Carefully fold in flour and salt, mixing gently to create a cohesive dough without overworking, which would compromise the delicate texture.
- Chill and Prepare: Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to intensify flavors and stabilize the mixture. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Shaping and Decorating: Choose your preferred cookie style – pipe elegant swirls using a star-tipped bag or roll into small rounds and create classic crosshatch patterns with a fork. Sprinkle with sanding sugar for an elegant finish.
- Baking Process: Arrange cookies with minimal spacing on prepared sheets, allowing them to bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges turn a delicate golden brown.
- Cooling and Finishing: Rest cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack. Once completely cooled, optionally embellish with a chocolate drizzle or dip for an indulgent touch.
Notes
Optimize Butter Softness: Use room temperature butter at precisely 65-70°F for perfect creaming, ensuring smooth texture and consistent cookie structure.
Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold flour until just combined, stopping immediately when no flour streaks remain to maintain tender, delicate cookie crumb.
Chill for Success: Refrigerate dough for minimum 30 minutes to prevent excessive spreading, concentrate flavors, and develop rich, buttery characteristics.
Customize Creatively: Experiment with flavor additions like almond extract, citrus zest, or finely chopped nuts to transform classic butter cookie recipe into unique variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 151
- Sugar: 6.8 g
- Sodium: 0.1 mg
- Fat: 9.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.4 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 23 mg