How to Make Butter Cookies

As kids, we've all eaten those yummy, soft, delectable butter cookies that melt in our mouth. Even today, temptation sometimes strikes and you just need to devour some of those delicious cookies. Why not make some yourself, and store them for times like these? For all you mothers out there, you can even attain the title of 'the mom who makes the world's best cookies', by learning how to make butter cookies.

Traditional Butter Cookies

This is the traditional way of making your favorite cookies. It is most simple, and you can always spice it up by adding some interesting ingredients such as a dash of cinnamon, cardamom, some chocolate chips or some nuts of your choice.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ sticks (¾ cup) unsalted, softened butter
• 1 large egg
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp vanilla

Procedure

1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, and whisk thoroughly.
2. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix together the butter and sugar. The mixture should become pale and fluffy. Whisk it for a period of 3-6 minutes until the desired texture is achieved.
3. Now add the egg and vanilla extract. While still mixing on a low speed, slowly add the flour and allow it to blend in with the mixture.
4. You will now have a ready dough to make the cookies. Shape it into a log that is 12 inches long and 2 inches thick. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it until it is firm. Ideally, the time required for this process is about 4 hours.
5. Preheat the oven to a temperature of 375ºF. Evenly space and place the oven racks in the oven.
6. From the log of dough, use a heavy knife to cut the cookies. Slices that are ¼ inch thick are ideal. Place them on large ungreased baking sheets, about 1 inch apart from each other. If you wish to garnish the cookies with sugar or nuts, just dip them in chopped nuts or sugar and then place them on the baking sheets.
7. Bake the cookies till the edges are golden, for a period of 12-15 minutes. Cool them for about 3 minutes, and transfer them to the racks to cool off completely.
8. You can use the remaining cookie dough to bake more cookies, or just wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. It can be chilled for up to 5 days.
9. You can also garnish these cookies with chocolate, by melting some and then cooling it. Pour it in a sealable plastic bag and cut a very tiny opening at the tip. Pour the chocolate over the cookies, back and forth. Allow the chocolate to set before you store the cookies.

Chocolate Butter Cookies

Try this butter cookie recipe, enriched with the flavor of chocolate, which no one can, or even should, resist!

Ingredients

• 1 stick butter (room temperature)
• 1 egg
• 1 box moist chocolate cake mix
• 1 brick (8 oz.) cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• confectioner's sugar

Procedure

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
2. Beat together, the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl, with an electric mixer, till it is completely smooth.
3. Add the egg and beat, followed by the vanilla extract.
4. Toss in the cake mix into this blend, and continue beating till you achieve a doughy texture.
5. Cover this mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until it is firm. This is so that you can roll the dough into small balls for the cookies.
6. Make tablespoon sized balls from this dough, and slightly flatten them to look like cookies. Now roll them in the confectioner's sugar.
7. On an ungreased cookie sheet, place them about 2 inches away from each other and place in the oven.
8. Bake for a period of 12 minutes or until they are crisp on the outside. They will remain soft on the inside due to the cake mix.
9. Cool the cookies and they are ready to eat.

For eggless butter cookies just substitute the egg for 1 tsp baking powder and ½ teaspoon baking soda.

What are you waiting for? Now that you know how to make butter cookies, make a batch quickly and treat yourself to some heavenly yummies!