Description
Make rich, buttery Italian butter cookies at home. This easy recipe yields melt-in-your-mouth cookies perfect for holidays or enjoying with coffee.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate, for dipping (optional)
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (for melting chocolate, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
- Transfer the dough to a cookie press fitted with your desired decorative tip (star tip recommended for bakery style).
- Press the dough onto the prepared baking sheets in small swirls or strips, about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- If using chocolate, melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
- Dip the cooled cookies halfway into the melted chocolate and place them back on the wire rack until the chocolate sets.
Notes
- For jam-filled cookies, press dough into small rounds, bake, and once cooled, sandwich two cookies together with a small amount of your favorite jam.
- You can substitute almond extract for vanilla for a different traditional flavor.
- Store finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 45
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 30