A few weeks ago, I was in my friend, Sue’s, coffee shop, and she had the most wonderfully delicious-looking cookies in a pretty dish on the counter, and even though I went in only wanting an iced coffee, one of those cookies screamed my name so loudly, I had to buy it to shut it up! Really!
They were Butter Cookies, Sue said.
They were delicious. I wanted more than one, but good sense fear of public embarrassment kept me from buying more.
But I vowed to come home and try to figure out how to make them myself so I could have them any time I wanted them, and have as many as I wanted in the privacy of my own little shack.
So I scoured my mother’s recipe box to see if she had a recipe for Butter Cookies.
Sure enough, she did — in her very own handwriting. Her notes on the card indicate that it is Aunt Ruby’s recipe.
Aunt Ruby could make good cookies, so I tested it out.
The recipe says to put them through a press, which I don’t have. It was also cryptic on the amount of salt, and how long to bake them, so I’ve rewritten the recipe to put in all the things I did that take that guesswork out, so you can have yummy Butter Cookies your ownself.
And it can be done without a cookie press. I mean, who has time for that hassle? I need to get them done fast so I can EAT them! It also says they usually doubled the recipe, and I can see why. It only made about 2 dozen. That might cover me, but what about everyone else in the family?
Butter Cookies
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup butter (2 sticks, softened)
1 unbeaten egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
Mix together. Chill for 30 minutes. Roll in balls, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
Sprinkle the tops with colored sugar or tint the batter with food coloring before baking.
I didn’t sprinkle or color mine (because I was in a hurry), but wouldn’t they be cute colored pink or blue for a baby shower, or all different colors for Easter? Or sprinkled with red or green sugar for Christmas cookies? If you had a press that squirted them out in the shapes of little trees, you could color the batter green first, and have all kinds of fun. OK, I’ll stop now.
Shelly, my grandma would always make butter cookies for Christmas with colored sugar on top, I bet I have the recipe somewhere in that mess of all my recipes. I remember they would just kind of melt in your mouth. A nice, light, crisp, cookie, loved them! Thanks for your recipe and bringing back a fond memory for me.
Betsy
Since I own a cookie press, does that make me old? They sound yummy!
I would want to make them, just so I’d have a reason to get a cookie press. You know me…notion junkie. LOL. I bet they are good. I have always thought recipes for butter cookies don’t make many. I wonder if someone’s trying to tell us something.
So, how were the ones you made? Were they as good as the ones in the shop? 😉
Now I’m hungry. Dang you!
I have a cookie press. Not sure where it is. So I think I’ll make these the way you did. As soon as it cools down a bit.
I’ll tell you how old I am. I have worn out one and then bought a Pampered Chef model that is so tough it probably won’t wear out. I do like those tinted green Christmas trees and wreaths.
And since I didn’t do a single thing for Christmas last year (had surgery instead), I just might have to do a lot of extras this year.