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Enjoy homemade butter cookies in just 20 minutes with this small batch recipe, perfect for when you want a treat without making a full batch. These rich and tender cookies are great for a cozy gathering or a personal sweet craving and can be easily customized with nuts, chocolate, or enjoyed plain.
Looking for more small batch cookie recipes? Try our Shortbread Bites, Butter Cookies, Ricotta Cookies, and Molasses Cookies!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Butter Cookie Recipe
- Quick: In just 20 minutes, you have perfectly baked cookies.
- No Dough Chilling: Save time by skipping the dough chilling step.
- Customizable: Dress them up with nuts or dip them in chocolate.
- Perfect Texture: These cookies offer a melt-in-your-mouth interior with edges that have just the right amount of crispness.
- Easily Scaled: This small batch recipe doubles well for larger gatherings.
Watch How To Make This Recipe
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch butter cookies recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Butter: Four tablespoons of salted butter at room temperature contribute to the rich flavor and airy texture of the cookies. Softened yet still cool to the touch, the butter makes creaming it with sugar a breeze. This process creates air pockets, resulting in a light and tender cookie.
- Sugar: The sweetness in these cookies starts with sugar, creamed together with butter to form the base of the dough.
- Egg yolk: You’ll only need one egg yolk for this recipe, enriching the cookies and adding moisture. Hang on to the egg white and use it in one of our egg white recipes like Flourless Chocolate Cookies or a Mini Texas Sheet Cake.
- Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor profile, offering that classic, aromatic touch.
- Flour: Stick with all-purpose flour for best results, ensuring the right structure and texture in each cookie.
- Optional Toppings: Feel free to add your personal touch! Press pecans or walnuts into the dough balls, sprinkle with sanding or decorating sugar, dip the butter cookies in melted chocolate, or jazz them up with some colorful sprinkles.
This section provides a quick rundown of the ingredients used in this easy butter cookies recipe. For complete measurements and step-by-step instructions, please scroll to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
Recipe Variations
The versatility of these butter cookies allows for endless culinary creativity. Here’s how you can add your personal touch to this already fantastic recipe:
- Nutty Delight: Press a pecan or walnut into the center of each cookie dough ball before baking. This adds a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
- Fruit-Topped Cookies: Place a small piece of maraschino cherry or a dollop of fruit jam in the middle of each cookie for a burst of fruity goodness.
- Spiced Butter Cookies: Incorporate a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg into the dough for cookies with a warm, spicy kick.
- Lemon Zest: Add a quarter-teaspoon of lemon zest to the dough to create lemon-flavored butter cookies. It’s a refreshing spin that’s especially great in the summertime.
- Chocolate-Dipped Butter Cookies: Melt some chocolate and dip half of each baked cookie into it. Set them on a parchment-lined tray and chill until the chocolate hardens. You can even add a sprinkle of sea salt for a sweet and salty contrast.
These ideas are just a starting point. Feel free to experiment with your favorite flavors and textures!
How To Make Butter Cookies
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a small batch of butter cookies. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Cream together the butter and the sugar with an electric hand mixer. You’ll want to mix the butter and sugar together until it is light and fluffy. This will usually take 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add in the egg yolk and vanilla and mix well.
- Pour in the flour and mix.
- Scoop out the cookie batter and place it on a cookie sheet. Roll the dough into balls.
- Using the bottom of a drinking glass or the palm of your hand, gently press down on each of the balls of dough to slightly flatten them to about 1/4″ thickness. If you use the bottom of a glass and the bottom becomes sticky, dip the glass in a little sugar before pressing down on the cookies.
- Although not necessary, you can top each cookie with a nut or a sprinkling of decorating sugar. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) oven for 10 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Before you start cooking, make sure to read the entire recipe, including the Ingredient Notes section, and examine the process photos. This detailed guide will help you understand how the recipe unfolds, ensuring your butter cookies turn out perfect every time. All the information you need is found within the body of this recipe post, so don’t miss a thing!
- Accurate Flour Measurement: For the best results, spoon your flour into a dry measuring cup rather than scooping it directly. Overfill the cup slightly, then level it off with a straight-edged utensil like the back of a knife. Scooping packs the flour too tightly, leading to an inaccurate measurement that can affect your cookie’s texture.
- Prep Your Baking Sheet: Opt for lining your baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Avoid greasing the sheet with butter or cooking spray, as this can make your cookies spread too much and create an oily residue.
- Evenly Flatten Cookies: Use the bottom of a drinking glass to gently flatten your cookie dough balls. This ensures they’ll bake evenly and achieve the desired shape.
- Watch the Bake Time: Keep an eye on your cookies as they bake. Pull them out of the oven as soon as the edges start to turn a light golden brown to avoid overbaking and achieve the perfect texture.
Serving Suggestions
Whether you’re enjoying these butter cookies as a treat for yourself or sharing them with others, there are countless ways to make the experience even more special. Here are a few highly recommended serving ideas:
- Tea or Coffee Pairing: Elevate your tea time or coffee break by pairing these cookies with a cup of Earl Grey or a smooth latte. The flavors of the beverages complement the buttery richness of the cookies.
- Ice Cream Sandwich: Take a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sandwich it between two butter cookies. Freeze briefly to firm up before enjoying.
- Cookie Crumble Topping: Crumble a couple of these cookies and sprinkle them over a bowl of vanilla pudding or chocolate pudding. They add a delightful texture and extra flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
To properly soften butter, simply leave it out on the kitchen counter for about 30 minutes before you plan to use it. If you’re short on time, you can microwave the butter for 10-15 seconds. But be cautious—keep a close eye to ensure the butter softens without melting.
Dipping your cookies in melted chocolate adds an extra layer of deliciousness. To melt chocolate, go for small, uniformly sized pieces. Chocolate chips are ideal for this. Combine the chips with a 1/4 teaspoon of butter, vegetable oil, or canola oil in a glass bowl. Microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring after each burst. The chocolate should melt evenly after 2-3 rounds. For this, you’ll need about 2 ounces or approximately 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
To keep your butter cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container. If you want to store them for an extended period, use a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
While these cookies are already scrumptious on their own, adding frosting is a delightful option. Use your go-to frosting recipe or try different flavors like vanilla frosting, sugar cookie frosting, or cream cheese frosting. Pre-made frosting works just as well.
More Small Batch Cookie Recipes You’ll Love
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page. For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried these butter cookies or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes
Small Batch Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter –softened (¼ cup)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- Optional toppings: walnuts, pecans, sanding sugar, melted chocolate or sprinkles
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350° F (177° C). Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar with a hand mixer until creamy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the egg yolk and the vanilla and mix well.
- Pour in the flour and mix on low until combined.
- Using a medium sized cookie scoop or a large tablespoon, scoop the cookie dough and place on the baking sheet spacing the dough 2-inches apart.
- Roll the cookie dough into round balls.
- Using the bottom of a drinking glass, gently press down on each of the balls of dough. Flatten to ¼" thickness.
- If you're using walnuts or pecans, gently press a nut into the center of each cookie. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if using and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges begin to lightly brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest for 5 minutes on the baking sheet.
- Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to continue cooling.
Notes
- Before you start cooking, make sure to read the entire recipe, including the Ingredient Notes section, and examine the process photos. This detailed guide will help you understand how the recipe unfolds, ensuring your butter cookies turn out perfect every time. All the information you need is found within the body of this recipe post, so don’t miss a thing!
- Accurate Flour Measurement: For the best results, spoon your flour into a dry measuring cup rather than scooping it directly. Overfill the cup slightly, then level it off with a straight-edged utensil like the back of a knife. Scooping packs the flour too tightly, leading to an inaccurate measurement that can affect your cookie’s texture.
- Prep Your Baking Sheet: Opt for lining your baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Avoid greasing the sheet with butter or cooking spray, as this can make your cookies spread too much and create an oily residue.
- Evenly Flatten Cookies: Use the bottom of a drinking glass to gently flatten your cookie dough balls. This ensures they’ll bake evenly and achieve the desired shape.
- Watch the Bake Time: Keep an eye on your cookies as they bake. Pull them out of the oven as soon as the edges start to turn a light golden brown to avoid overbaking and achieve the perfect texture.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Can I add cocoa powder to these?
Yes. To add cocoa powder, reduce the amount of flour by the amount of cocoa powder you add.
Always looking for small batch recipes, and this one is a winner! Just made these but added about a 1/4 cup of chopped cooked apples I had on hand and the cookies were great. Will definitely check out other small batch recipes here.
Can I make these into thumbprint cookies and put jam in the middle??
Yes, you sure can.
Omg! So good. I actually made a double batch because I found coconut flakes and chopped walnuts in my pantry! Also made some into thumbprint cookies ! I didn’t know which way to make them so I went crazy and made all flavors! Lol
I needed to bake to lift my spirits, these were quick-delicious-and dare I say convenient. The recipe was perfectly sized for me to yield 5 and honestly I just loved the lack of milk in this recipe. Perfect for my kitchen, perfect for me;
thanks for sharing this recipe xo
I’m so happy you enjoyed the cookies. Thank you so much for your feedback.
These satisfied my sweet craving perfectly and very easy to make. They are so good I think I will make double batch next time and freeze them.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the cookies! Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
The cookies are so yummy. A winner!!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the cookies. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know.
Thank you — these were a tasty, easy snack for my family! I undercooked them a little, but I’ll adjust that next time.
Butter Sugar Cookie recipe: (tried and true many times) This time I was out of vanilla and used almond extract. I added Heath brickle chips just before baking. OMG! Decadent pleasure!I love your recipe!
Oh my, that sounds heavenly!
Just me here, so small batch is perfect for me. I just made the Small Batch Butter Cookies, and it’s a good thing it only made five cookies because I ate them all as soon as they cooled off. What delicious little butter bombs! I meant to save a couple for tomorrow, but I couldn’t stop myself. So good!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the cookies, Susan. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know.
I am so very thankful for One Dish Kitchen. I live alone and the recipes are perfect for me. What a savings
As there is no waste. I used the recipes to make out my grocery list
this week. Also love the simplicity of the recipes…which I need in my 86th year. Thanks
Thank you so much, June! I’m so happy you are enjoying the recipes and that they are helpful to you.