Learn how to make the easiest butter cookies with only 3 ingredients that you already have. These butter cookies are so delicious and they melt in your mouth! This recipe is super easy and anyone can make it at home.
As a recipe developer, I always love trying new things and experimenting with recipes. While I already have a successful recipe for classic Melt-in-Your-Mouth Butter Cookies, which has gained almost 2 million views on YouTube, I decided to make things even easier and created this recipe for 3-ingredient butter cookies. Surprisingly, this recipe has become even more popular over the years, with 6 million views and tens of thousands of happy bakers. It has now become one of my signature recipes, alongside my soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies.
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Why You’ll Love 3-Ingredient Butter Cookies
There is a good reason why this recipe is so popular (6 million views on my YouTube channel), here are just few of the reasons:
- Simple and easy: Only three basic ingredients—butter, flour, and powdered sugar—make this recipe incredibly easy to follow.
- No eggs needed: Perfect for those with egg allergies or when you want a quick bake without needing eggs. Makes this the perfect no egg butter cookies recipe.
- Melt-in-your-mouth texture: These cookies have a tender, buttery texture that literally melts in your mouth.
- Versatile: You can easily customize the flavor with vanilla, salt, or even a sugar coating for extra sweetness.
- Beginner-friendly: Great for bakers of all skill levels, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.
- Quick to prepare: With minimal ingredients and simple directions, these cookies come together in no time, making them a go-to treat.
Butter Cookies Ingredients
The beauty of these easy 3-ingredient butter cookies lies in their simplicity. Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients:
- Butter: The star of the recipe, butter gives the cookies their rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture and buttery flavor.
- Flour: This forms the base of the cookie dough, providing structure and stability to the cookies while keeping them soft.
- Powdered sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a smooth, tender texture that sets these cookies apart.
These three ingredients come together to make a deliciously simple cookie. But if you’re feeling adventurous, this recipe is incredibly versatile! You can easily upgrade it by adding vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, or even rolling the cookies in sugar for extra sweetness. I’ll be writing about fun variations and add-ins later on, so stay tuned for even more ways to elevate your butter cookies!
Variations
One of the best things about this simple 3-ingredient butter cookies recipe is how easily you can customize it to suit your tastes. With just a few simple add-ins, you can transform these basic cookies into something special. Here are a few fun variations to try:
- Vanilla Butter Cookies: Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dough for a classic flavor boost that pairs perfectly with the buttery base.
- Lemon Zest: For a fresh, zesty twist, grate the zest of a lemon into the dough. This adds a bright, citrusy note that complements the rich butter flavor.
- Chocolate-Dipped: Once the cookies are baked and cooled, dip them halfway in melted chocolate and let them set. It’s an easy way to turn these simple cookies into a decadent treat.
- Spiced Cookies: Mix in a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to the dough for a warm, spiced flavor, especially great for the holiday season.
- Salted Butter Cookies: Add a pinch of sea salt to balance the sweetness and bring out the butter’s richness.
- Chocolate Butter Cookies: For a rich chocolate twist, replace some of the flour with cocoa powder. This adds a deep, chocolatey flavor while keeping the cookies tender and buttery. Check out my Chocolate Butter Cookies.
These variations are just the beginning! You can play with different flavors and textures to make this easy butter cookie recipe your own.
How to Store Butter Cookies
- Room Temperature: Store these simple butter cookies cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days to keep them fresh and soft.
- Refrigeration: If you prefer a slightly firmer texture, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Just make sure they’re in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out.
- Freezing: Butter cookies freeze well! Place them in a freezer-safe container or bag, separating layers with parchment paper. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Make Gluten-Free Butter Cookies
- Use a gluten-free flour blend: Simply substitute the regular flour in the recipe with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that includes xanthan gum or another binder. This will help maintain the structure of the cookies without the gluten.
- Adjust the texture: Gluten-free flours can sometimes absorb more moisture, so if your dough feels dry or crumbly, add a teaspoon or two of water or milk until it reaches the right consistency.
- Chill the dough: Gluten-free dough can be a bit softer, so it helps to chill the dough before shaping and baking to keep the cookies from spreading too much.
The result will be gluten-free butter cookies that are just as delicious, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth as the classic version!
Common Questions
While granulated sugar can technically be used, it’s not recommended for this recipe. Powdered sugar is finer and dissolves easily into the butter, resulting in a smoother, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Using granulated sugar could make the cookies more grainy and less tender.
If the dough is too soft, it might be due to the butter being overly softened or warm. To fix this, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of flour or refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before shaping.
Absolutely! You can add vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, or even lemon zest for extra flavor. These add-ins won’t alter the texture but will enhance the taste of the cookies.
If your cookies are spreading too much, make sure to chill the dough before baking. This will help them maintain their shape. Also, be sure that your butter isn’t too warm when you start the recipe.
Yes, you can freeze the dough for up to 3 months. Simply shape the dough into a log, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze. When ready to bake, slice the dough into rounds and bake as usual, adding an extra minute or two to the baking time.
More Cookie Recipes
If you enjoyed this simple butter cookies recipe and looking for more easy cookie recipes with few ingredients, here are few ideas for you:
3-Ingredient Butter Cookies Recipe
Learn how to make the easiest butter cookies with only 3 ingredients that you already have. These butter cookies are so delicious and they melt in your mouth! This recipe is super easy and anyone can make it at home.
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- 1 cup (230 g) Unsalted Butter softened
- 2 cups (250 g) Flour read notes
- ⅔ cup (85) Powdered sugar
Optional additions:
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Sugar for coating
Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper, set aside.
In a large bowl cream together the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour and mix until combined. If the dough is too soft, add 2-3 tablespoons of flour
2 ways to shape the cookies:
Shape the dough into a disk form, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Then, roll out the dough into 1/4-inch (1/2cm) thick. Then, cut into desired shape (hearts, round, rectangle).
Roll the dough into a log shape, wrap it with plastic wrap and freeze for 30 minutes. Then, unwrap and slice the log into 1/4-inch (1/2cm) thick slices.
Transfer the cookies to the baking tray and bake for 12-15 minutes, until slightly golden.
- Watch the Video: For a better understanding of the recipe, I always recommend watching the video recipe, which includes a step-by-step guide to help you succeed.
- FAQs: Make sure you read the FAQs for this recipe which are located above the recipe box for additional tips and troubleshooting! For extra tips and variations read the article.
- Flour: to make these butter cookies you can use AP flour or plain flour.
Calories: 34kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 35mgPotassium: 3mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 2gVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.4mg
Nutrition information is automatically generated and thus we can not guarantee it is 100% accurate.Source link
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