Perfect for the weekend, these beautiful Grandma’s Butter Cookies are delicate, buttery, lightly crisp around the edges, and finished with a little spoonful of fruit jam in the center.
The flower-shaped cookies in the photo are made with a piped butter-cookie dough, making them especially pretty for a weekend dessert tray or afternoon coffee. Classic butter and spritz cookies are commonly made with butter, sugar, egg, flour, and vanilla, then shaped with a cookie press or piping bag. Bon Appétit
Note: Although this is a simple cookie recipe, it takes longer than 5 minutes from start to finish. The good news is that the dough comes together quickly and the cookies bake in just a few minutes.
🍪 Ingredients
For the cookies
200 g (¾ cup + 2 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
100 g (½ cup) powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp cornstarch
Pinch of salt
For the center
3–4 tbsp raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam
The basic proportions of butter, sugar, egg, and flour are typical of classic butter-cookie recipes, while cornstarch can help produce a delicate texture. Bon Appétit
👩🍳 How to Make Grandma’s Butter Cookies
1. Cream the butter and sugar
Place the softened butter and powdered sugar in a large bowl.
Beat for 3–5 minutes, until pale, fluffy, and creamy.
This step helps create a light texture.
2. Add the egg and vanilla
Add the egg and vanilla extract.
Beat until completely incorporated.
3. Add the dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
Mix just until a soft, smooth dough forms.
Don’t overmix, or the cookies can become less tender.
4. Shape the cookies
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped nozzle.
Pipe small flower shapes onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Make a small indentation in the center of each cookie.
Add a tiny amount of raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam to the center.
If your dough is too stiff to pipe, allow it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes rather than adding extra liquid.
5. Bake
Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).
Bake for approximately 8–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
Butter cookies can brown quickly, so keep a close eye on them during the final minutes. Similar spritz-cookie recipes bake in roughly 8–12 minutes. Bon Appétit
6. Cool
Leave the cookies on the baking tray for several minutes.
Then carefully transfer them to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
The cookies will become more delicate and crisp as they cool.
🍓 Best Jam Flavors
The little jam center makes these cookies especially beautiful.
Try:
❤️ Raspberry
🍓 Strawberry
🍑 Apricot
🫐 Blueberry
🍒 Sour cherry
🍇 Blackcurrant
Apricot jam is particularly lovely with buttery vanilla cookies.
✨ Tips for Perfect Butter Cookies
Use real butter. Butter provides the characteristic flavor and texture of these cookies. A Hungarian butter-cookie recipe also specifically emphasizes using butter rather than margarine. Web Cukrászda
Use softened butter, not melted butter. Soft butter creams properly with the sugar and gives the dough the right consistency.
Don’t add too much flour. Too much flour can make the dough difficult to pipe and produce hard cookies.
Don’t overbake. The cookies should be lightly golden rather than deeply brown.
Keep the jam center small. A little is enough—you don’t want the jam to spread over the cookie while baking.
☕ Perfect With Coffee
These cookies are wonderful with a cup of:
☕ Coffee
🍵 Black tea
🥛 Milk
🍫 Hot chocolate
They also make a beautiful addition to a holiday cookie platter or a weekend dessert table.
🧁 Storage
Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
For longer storage, butter cookies can also be frozen in a well-sealed container. Classic spritz cookies are commonly stored airtight or frozen for longer keeping. Zekila
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my dough too hard to pipe?
Your butter may be too cold, or there may be slightly too much flour. Let the dough soften at room temperature for a few minutes before piping.
Can I make these without a piping bag?
Yes. You can use a cookie press or shape small portions by hand.
Can I use regular sugar instead of powdered sugar?
You can, but powdered sugar gives the cookies a finer, more delicate texture.
Can I make them without jam?
Absolutely. They are delicious plain, with melted chocolate, chopped nuts, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar.
❤️ Final Thoughts
These Grandma’s Butter Cookies are exactly the kind of simple homemade treat that makes a weekend feel special. Golden around the edges, tender in the middle, beautifully shaped, and finished with a little burst of fruity jam. 🍪❤️
Would you make these with raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam?
🍓 Strawberry | ❤️ Raspberry | 🍑 Apricot
💬 Dear Silent 🤫 members, if you love homemade cookies, say “HI” in the comments so I know you’re here! 🍪❤️
