Butter Cookies

Servings: 4 Total Time: 30 mins Difficulty: Beginner
Butter Cookies pinit

Ever wondered why your homemade cookies don’t taste like the best butter cookies from a bakery? 

You’re about to unlock the secret to pure butter cookies that are crispy at the edges, tender inside, and loaded with that irresistible buttery flavor that melts in your mouth. Whether you call them butter biscuits or buttery cookies, this homemade recipe is the real deal. 

Simple ingredients, no fancy tools, and just a few easy steps—this one’s perfect for beginners or anyone craving something sweet and comforting. Let’s bake the best butter cookies from scratch, together!

Why These Are the Best Butter Cookies You’ll Ever Bake

  • Simple Ingredients, Spectacular Results: No fancy add‑ins—just unsalted butter, sugar, and pantry staples.
  • Buttery Cookie Perfection: Using the best butter for baking cookies ensures maximum richness.
  • Quick & Foolproof: From scratch, in under an hour—perfect for busy bakers.

Ingredient Breakdown

  • Unsalted Butter: Your foundation for a buttery cookie—room‑temperature for easy creaming.
  • Sugar: Just enough sweetness to balance the butter.
  • Maida (All‑Purpose Flour): Creates that tender crumb we love in an English butter cookie.
  • Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Light lift and gentle spread, giving you evenly baked butter biscuits.

How to Make Homemade Butter Cookies from Scratch

  1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
  2. Cream Butter & Sugar: Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy—this is where your cookie butter cookies get their airiness.
  3. Form the Dough: Gradually add the dry mix, beating until it forms one smooth mass—your simple butter cookies dough.
  4. Shape & Press: Roll into small balls. On a parchment‑lined tray, place each ball and, using a fork greased with butter, gently press down to create a classic criss‑cross pattern.
  5. Bake to Golden Perfection:
    • Preheat: 180 °C for 10 minutes.
    • Bake: 180 °C for 15 minutes, until edges just turn golden.
  6. Cool & Enjoy: Let cookies reach room temperature. This final step ensures they crisp up beautifully.

💡 Pro Tip: Chill the dough for 10 minutes before baking if your kitchen is warm—helps maintain shape and prevents excessive spreading.

What Goes Along

How to Serve & Store

  • Serve: Arrange on a platter; garnish with a dusting of powdered sugar for that all butter cookies bakery feel.
  • Store: Airtight tin at room temperature—stays fresh for up to a week.
  • Freeze for Later: Dough balls freeze well; bake from frozen, adding 2 minutes to the bake time.

Bulk & Party Prep

  • Scale Up: Multiply ingredients by 2× or 3×, scoop dough onto multiple trays, and bake in shifts.
  • Make‑Ahead Gift: Package in cellophane bags tied with ribbons—your best ever butter cookies make perfect edible gifts.

These easy butter cookies deliver on every front: flavor, texture, and simplicity. Ready to bake the best butter biscuits of your life? Grab your butter and let’s get mixing!

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 15 mins Total Time 30 mins
Servings: 4 Calories: 122
Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Description

These homemade butter cookies are everything you’d want in a classic biscuit—crispy on the edges, tender in the middle, and full of rich, buttery flavor. Made with just a handful of pantry staples, this is the kind of recipe you’ll come back to again and again. Whether you call them butter cookies, butter biscuits, or English butter cookies, they’re simple to make and perfect for any time of day—alongside your tea, as an after-school treat, or just when you're craving something sweet and nostalgic. With a light golden finish and melt-in-your-mouth texture, these are truly some of the best butter cookies you’ll ever bake from scratch.

Ingredients

Cooking Mode Disabled

Instructions

Prep Work

  1. Soften the butter

    Leave butter out until it’s soft and easily spreadable.

  2. Line the baking tray

    Place parchment paper over your baking tray for easy cleanup and no sticking.

Method

  1. Cream the butter

    Beat the softened butter until light and creamy.

  2. Mix in the sugar

    Add sugar and beat until fully combined and smooth.
  3. Add dry ingredients

    Add flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix until everything comes together.
  4. Form the dough

    Beat the mixture until it gathers into a soft dough.
  5. Shape the cookies

    Roll small balls of dough between your palms.
  6. Prepare the tray

    Place the dough balls evenly on the lined baking tray.
  7. Press with fork

    Lightly grease a fork and press down on each ball to flatten.
  8. Preheat the oven

    Set your oven to 180°C and let it heat up for 10 minutes.
  9. Bake the cookies

    Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges turn golden.
  10. Cool and serve

    Let the cookies cool at room temperature before serving.

Equipment

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, i.e., when you buy any product using the links below, we get commissions. but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. If you do purchase any product using the given links, we thank you in advance!

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4


Amount Per Serving
Calories 122kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6.8g11%
Saturated Fat 4.2g22%
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 60mg3%
Total Carbohydrate 13.7g5%
Sugars 7.5g
Protein 1.3g3%

Vitamin A 290 IU
Calcium 8 mg
Iron 0.5 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: butter cookies, butter biscuit, homemade butter cookies, homemade cookies,
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Frequently Asked Questions

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Why does butter need to be softened?

Soft butter blends more easily with sugar and creates a lighter texture.

Can I use melted butter instead?

No, melted butter will change the cookie’s shape and texture.

What if I don’t have parchment paper?

You can lightly grease your tray with butter or oil instead.

Should I sift the flour?

It’s optional, but sifting helps make the dough smoother.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can refrigerate it for up to 2 days.

Why beat butter before adding sugar?

Creaming first helps with even sugar distribution and fluffy texture.

Can I skip the fork pressing step?

You can, but pressing helps cookies bake evenly.

What if my dough is too sticky?

Chill it for 10–15 minutes before rolling into balls.

How do I know the cookies are done?

Edges should be golden and center slightly soft—they’ll set as they cool.

Can I use this dough with cookie cutters?

No, this dough is too soft. Try a shortbread-style recipe instead.

Hema Subramanian
Hema Subramanian Food and Lifestyle Blogger

I love to cook! And through Home Cooking Show, I hope to make cooking fun, easy, and approachable for everyone.

My way of sharing recipes is all about keeping it simple and delicious—no complicated steps, no fancy ingredients, just real home-cooked food that anyone can make. Cooking should be a joy, not a chore! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cook, you’ll find something here to inspire you. If you love good food made with love, then you’re in the right place!

- Hema Subramanian

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  1. Usha subramanian

    Excellent

    • Hema Subramanian

      Thank you! Always happy to know you liked butter cookies