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    Home » Cuisine » Southern

    Published Dec 7, 2022 (Updated Mar 11, 2025) by Heather Bilyeu

    Soft Butter Cookies

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    You will instantly fall in love with these old fashion soft butter cookies. They will melt in your mouth and have a rich buttery flavor.

    It is a COOKIE SEASON! The first full week of December is always Christmas Cookie Week at Fueling a Southern Soul Christmas (and it may or may not be my favorite 😉 ) and we are starting it off with these insanely delicious soft butter cookies!

    Now, it definitely doesn't have to be Christmas to enjoy these.....duh. But I think there is a little nostalgia with them this time of year.

    swirl butter cookies that have been dipped in chocolate stacked on top of each other. A glass of milk, christmas sprinkles, and lights around them.

    Do you ever get this tin of butter cookies around the holidays? If so which shape is your fav? I usually the swirl kind first, then the pretzel. Do they all taste the same? Of course, but hello - we all have our favorite shapes!

    What I love about these is they aren't overly sweet. They are perfectly soft and practically melt in your mouth as soon as you take your first bite. They are just the perfect amount of sweetness this holiday season.

    So let's bake!

    Ingredients Needed

    • 1 Cup Butter - softened to room temp
    • 1 Cup Sugar
    • 2 Eggs
    • 3 Cups Flour
    • Zest of ½ an Orange
    • 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla or Vanilla Bean Paste
    • ⅛ Teaspoon Salt
    • 1-2 Tablespoons of Milk

    How to Make

    1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
    2. In a stand mixer, add your softened butter and sugar and beat with a paddle attachment for 3-4 minutes. You want this to become light and airy and white in color. 
    3. Add in eggs 1 at a time and mix on low just until they are combined.
    4. Add in the flour, orange zest, vanilla, salt, and milk. Mix until just combined and the dough is together. It will be a thicker dough but the milk will help thin it slightly to be pipeable.
    bowl of cookie dough with a white paddle in it.

    Different Methods for Baking

    There are a couple of different ways to make these soft butter cookies. In the video, I piped them out but you can also use a cookie press or make slices and bakes. Doesn't matter what you do - total preference!

    Piping

    1. Place a Wilton 8B open star piping tip into a heavy-duty piping bag. Snip the tip of the bag to show the tip and fill the bag with about half of the cookie dough.
    2. Massage the dough to warm up with your hands. This batter will be thick. The milk helps thin slightly to make it easier to pipe, but do not add too much milk otherwise, the cookies will spread when baking. Massaging the dough will help warm it up a little and make it a little easier to pipe. Do not be worried if you struggle. It will get easier the warmer the dough is. Just be patient with it and take breaks if needed.
    3. Pipe into a spiral or straight up and down making a star.
    4. Repeat until all the dough is used. 
    5. Place into the oven for 14-15 minutes and until the edge is just barely light brown.
    6. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.
    piped soft butter cookie dough on a baking sheet with the piping bag full of dough next to it.

    Spritz Cookie Press

    1. If you have a cookie press, this recipe is perfect for it!
    2. Place the dough into the cylinder. Add whatever design disk to the press. Press out the dough according to the instructions. 
    3. Place into the oven for 14-15 minutes and until the edge is just barely light brown.
    4. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.

    Slice and Bake

    1. Place your butter cookie dough onto wax paper, parchment paper, or plastic wrap. Form into a long evenly sized log. Wrap tightly all the way around and on the ends. 
    2. Place in the fridge to chill for an hour.
    3. When ready to bake, remove from the fridge, unwrap, and slice off about a ¼" slice and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 
    4. Repeat with the desired amount of cookies. Place into the oven for 14-15 minutes and until the edge is just barely light brown.
    5. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.
    6. The dough can be kept in the fridge for up to a week. Slice and bake off as many or few as you wish.

    How to Decorate

    If you want to make them more like the traditional blue tin Christmas cookies then sprinkle some coarse sugar on top to give them the same look and crunch.

    Otherwise, these can be enjoyed plain, or dipped in chocolate with sprinkles!

    1. Place a medium-sized pot filled with water about halfway up on the stove over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer.
    2. Place a large heatproof glass bowl, over top of it, and dump in about ½-1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate or white chocolate chips. This double broiler method will allow the chocolate to slowly melt without burning or separating.
    3. Stir the chocolates every now and then as they melt. This will take about 15-20 minutes to fully melt.
    4. Once melted and smooth all the way through, dip each cookie in about halfway and place back on a baking sheet to let cool and harden. Leave as is or top with sprinkles if you desire. Repeat until all are finished. 
    soft butter cookies lined up next to each other. some dipped in white chocolate, some dipped in chocolate.

    How to Store

    Store cooled and decorated cookies in a Christmas tin or airtight container for up to a week.

    How to Freeze Cookies

    Once the cookies are cooled completely. Place in a freezer-safe zip-top bag. Place in the freezer for 3 months. Remove from freezer and place on a platter and allow to come to room temp when ready to enjoy. Chocolate-dipped cookies can be stored the same way. 

    Christmas Gift Ideas and Cookie Exchange

    Love to give baked goods during the holidays? Place some tissue or parchment paper in a Christmas tin and gently arrange these cookies inside. Anyone who receives them will be extra grateful this holiday season! You can't go wrong with a homemade baked good present!

    soft butter cookies on a white plate with christmas ribbon, napkin, and lights around it.

    More Christmas Cookie Recipes

    • No Bake Cookies
    • White Chocolate Peppermint & Pretzel Cookies
    • No Chill Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
    • Dark Chocolate Espresso Cookies
    • White Chocolate Peppermint & Pretzel Cookies
    • Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
    • Pecan Sandies
    • Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls {No Bake}
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    Recipe

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    soft butter cookies on a white plate with christmas ribbon, napkin, and lights around it

    Soft Butter Cookies


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    • Author: Heather Bilyeu
    • Total Time: 40 Minutes
    • Yield: 36
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    Description

    You will instantly fall in love with these old fashion soft butter cookies. They will melt in your mouth and have a rich buttery flavor. 


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 Cup Butter - softened to room temp
    • 1 Cup Sugar
    • 2 Eggs
    • 3 Cups Flour
    • Zest of ½ and Orange
    • 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla or Vanilla Bean Paste
    • ⅛ Teaspoon Salt 
    • 1-2 Tablespoons of Milk


    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
    2. In a stand mixer, add your softened butter and sugar and beat with a paddle attachment for 3-4 minutes. You want this to become light and airy and white in color. 
    3. Add in eggs 1 at a time and mix on low just until they are combined.
    4. Add in the flour, orange zest, vanilla, salt, and milk. Mix until just combined and the dough is together. It will be a thicker dough but the milk will help thin it slightly to be pipeable.

    Methods of Baking Butter Cookies

    Piping

    1. Place a Wilton 8B open star piping tip into a heavy-duty piping bag. Snip the tip of the bag to show the tip and fill the bag with about half of the cookie dough.
    2. Massage the dough to warm up with your hands. This batter will be thick. The milk helps thin slightly to make it easier to pipe, but do not add too much milk otherwise, the cookies will spread when baking. Massaging the dough will help warm it up a little and make it a little easier to pipe. Do not be worried if you struggle. It will get easier the warmer the dough is. Just be patient with it and take breaks if needed.
    3. Pipe into a spiral or straight up and down making a star.
    4. Repeat until all the dough is used. 
    5. Place into the oven for 14-15 minutes and until the edge is just barely light brown.
    6. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.

    Spritz Cookie Press

    1. If you have a cookie press, this recipe is perfect for it!
    2. Place the dough into the cylinder. Add whatever design disk to the press. Press out the dough according to the instructions. 
    3. Place into the oven for 14-15 minutes and until the edge is just barely light brown.
    4. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.

    Slice and Bake

    1. Place your butter cookie dough onto wax paper, parchment paper, or plastic wrap. Form into a long evenly sized log. Wrap tightly all the way around and on the ends. 
    2. Place in the fridge to chill for an hour.
    3. When ready to bake, remove from the fridge, unwrap, and slice off about a ¼" slice and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 
    4. Repeat with the desired amount of cookies. Place into the oven for 14-15 minutes and until the edge is just barely light brown.
    5. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.
    6. The dough can be kept in the fridge for up to a week. Slice and bake off as many or few as you wish.

    How to Decorate

    1. Place a medium-sized pot filled with water about halfway up on the stove over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer.
    2. Place a large heatproof glass bowl, over top of it, and dump in about ½-1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate or white chocolate chips. This double broiler method will allow the chocolate to slowly melt without burning or separating.
    3. Stir the chocolates every now and then as they melt. This will take about 15-20 minutes to fully melt.
    4. Once melted and smooth all the way through, dip each cookie in about halfway and place back on a baking sheet to let cool and harden. Leave as is or top with sprinkles if you desire. Repeat until all are finished. 

    Notes

    • The cookies can be enjoyed plain or decorated with chocolate and sprinkles. Mix up the sprinkles for each holiday!

    How to Freeze 

    1. Once the cookies are cooled completely. Place in a freezer-safe zip-top bag, container, or vacuum seal. Place in the freezer for 3 months (or a year if vacuum-sealed). Remove from freezer and place on a platter and allow to come to room temp when ready to enjoy. Chocolate-dipped cookies can be stored the same way. 
    • Prep Time: 30 Minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 Minutes
    • Category: Cookies
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cookie
    • Calories: 164
    • Sugar: 8.5 g
    • Sodium: 7.6 mg
    • Fat: 8.2 g
    • Carbohydrates: 20.5 g
    • Fiber: 0.4 g
    • Protein: 2.2 g
    • Cholesterol: 35.8 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @fuelingasouthernsoul on Instagram and hashtag it #fuelingasouthernsoul

    Please rate and review below!

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    Disclosure. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link, I may receive compensation. This compensation comes at no additional cost to you, and as always I only recommend products I trust!  Heather Bilyeu is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
    « White Chocolate Peppermint & Pretzel Cookies
    Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies »

    Filed Under: Christmas, Cookies, Southern

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    Hi, I'm Heather! Grab a glass of wine, a blanket, and a cozy seat on your back porch. I am so glad you are here! Born and raised in Kentucky and with proper southern roots, my love for entertaining and hospitality runs deep within my soul. There is nothing that I love more than having people around my table and loving them through food and drink!

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