Grandma's Secret Butter Cookies (Print Version)

Tender, buttery treats that melt in your mouth with delicate sweetness.

# What You'll Need:

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

02 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

03 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

04 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar

05 - 1 large egg yolk

06 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

07 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar, for dusting

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 forms a cohesive ball.

06 - Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.

07 - Press each ball gently with fork tines or glass bottom to slightly flatten.

08 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are just beginning to turn 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.

01 -

The dough comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen
They're subtly sweet, letting the butter flavor shine instead of overwhelming with sugar
Perfect for beginners but impressive enough for experienced bakers to appreciate

02 -

Room temperature butter is non-negotiable here, cold butter won't cream properly and you'll end up with dense cookies
These cookies look underbaked when you take them out, but that's exactly how they should be
The dough firms up in the fridge, so if it's too sticky to work with, chill it for 15 minutes

03 -

Chill the shaped dough on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking if your kitchen is warm, this helps them hold their shape
Rotate the baking sheets halfway through baking for even browning, especially if your oven has hot spots