4-Ingredient Homemade Butter Cookies

These 4-Ingredient Homemade Butter Cookies are buttery, tender, slightly crisp around the edges, and wonderfully soft in the center. Made with only four basic ingredients, they are an easy, family-friendly treat perfect for sharing.

Equipment

• baking sheet
• parchment paper
• large mixing bowl
• electric mixer or wooden spoon
• refrigerator
• wire rack

Ingredients

• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light, smooth, and creamy.
3. Pour in the vanilla extract and mix until evenly combined.
4. Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter mixture and mix gently until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
5. Roll the dough into small, evenly sized balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving approximately 2 inches between each cookie. Gently flatten each ball with a fork or the bottom of a glass.
6. Place the shaped cookies in the refrigerator for approximately 20 minutes.
7. Bake for 10–14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

Notes

The secret to delicious four-ingredient butter cookies is using the correct butter consistency and handling the dough gently. Chilling the dough helps prevent excessive spreading, and avoiding overbaking preserves their tender texture.