Key Takeaways:
- These buttery rounds need just 3 basic ingredients: butter, flour, and sugar
- No special equipment required – just a bowl, spoon, and baking sheet
- The dough comes together in under 5 minutes
- Makes 24 mini cookies perfect for tea time treats
Want to make butter cookies but short on time and ingredients? This 3-ingredient butter cookie recipe creates perfectly crisp, melt-in-your-mouth treats without fancy equipment or expensive ingredients.
What You’ll Need
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 cups plain flour
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar
Kitchen Equipment:
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cookie cutter (1-inch round) or small glass
- Spatula
- Cooling rack
- Rolling pin
- Plastic wrap
- Kitchen timer
Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Your Butter (15-20 minutes):
- Remove butter from refrigerator 1 hour before starting
- Test softness by gently pressing with your finger – it should leave an indent but not be mushy
- Cut butter into 1-inch cubes for easier mixing
- Place cubed butter in a large bowl
- Mix Butter (3-5 minutes):
- Using a wooden spoon or spatula, press and stir the butter against the bowl’s sides
- Continue mixing until butter becomes smooth and creamy
- Scrape down bowl sides with your spatula to ensure even mixing
- Add Sugar (5 minutes):
- Measure ⅔ cup powdered sugar using the spoon-and-level method
- Add sugar to butter in three portions
- Mix thoroughly after each addition
- Final mixture should be light and fluffy with no sugar lumps
- Add Flour (8-10 minutes):
- Measure 2 cups flour using the spoon-and-level method
- Add flour ½ cup at a time
- Gently mix after each addition until just combined
- Dough will seem crumbly at first – this is normal
- Continue mixing until it forms a soft, uniform dough
- Stop mixing as soon as dough comes together to avoid tough cookies
- Chill Dough (30 minutes):
- Shape dough into a ball
- Wrap tightly in plastic wrap
- Place in refrigerator
- Set timer for 30 minutes
- Prepare for Baking (5 minutes):
- Place oven rack in middle position
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper
- Lightly dust your work surface with flour
- Take dough out of refrigerator
- Roll Out Dough (10 minutes):
- Unwrap chilled dough
- Place dough on floured surface
- Press down gently with rolling pin
- Roll from center outward in all directions
- Aim for ¼-inch thickness (about two quarters stacked)
- Rotate dough quarter-turn after each roll to prevent sticking
- Cut Cookies (10 minutes):
- Dip cookie cutter in flour before each cut
- Press straight down – don’t twist
- Place cut cookies on prepared baking sheet
- Space cookies 1 inch apart (about your thumb’s width)
- Gather scraps and re-roll (chill again if too soft)
- Bake Cookies (12-15 minutes):
- Place baking sheet in preheated oven
- Set timer for 12 minutes
- Check at 12 minutes – edges should be light golden
- Add 1-2 minutes if needed
- Cookies should not brown completely
- Cool Properly (15-20 minutes):
- Remove from oven
- Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes
- Carefully transfer to cooling rack using flat spatula
- Allow to cool completely before storing
Pro Tips
- Room temperature butter works best – leave it out for 1 hour before starting
- Don’t overwork the dough or the cookies will be tough
- Watch carefully during bake time as these little treats can brown quickly
- Store in an airtight cookie jar for up to 1 week
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using liquid butter or melted butter (leads to flat cookies)
- Skipping the chilling step (causes cookies to spread)
- Rolling dough too thin (results in brittle cookies)
- Overbaking (creates a floury aftertaste)
These mini butter cookies pair perfectly with hot tea or pumpkin spice tea. They’re an amazing recipe to keep handy for quick snacks or when unexpected guests arrive.
Try variations by adding nutty flavor with almond flour, or transform them into sandwich cookies with melted chocolate filling. The simple recipe serves as a base for countless delicious butter-flavored treats.
No expensive ingredients or complicated steps – just pure, buttery goodness in every bite. This go-to recipe proves that sometimes the tastiest treats need just a few basic ingredients and a little love.
