Grandma's Secret Butter Cookies (Printable)

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

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

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

→ Wet Ingredients

03 - 1 cup unsalted butter, 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

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour and salt in a medium bowl until well blended.
03 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Mix in egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients, mixing just until dough comes together.
06 - Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
07 - Gently press each ball with fork tines or glass bottom to flatten slightly.
08 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are just turning golden. Avoid overbaking.
09 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar once completely cooled, if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The texture is impossibly tender, practically dissolving on your tongue
  • They come together in under 30 minutes with ingredients you already have
02 -
  • Overbaking is the enemy, these cookies should stay pale and tender
  • Room temperature ingredients make the difference between tough and tender
03 -
  • Sift your powdered sugar over the cookies for the lightest, most even dusting
  • Use a cookie scoop for perfectly uniform cookies that bake evenly