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Butter Cookies with Optional Chocolate and Maraschino Cherry Topping Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 87 reviews

Classic buttery and tender butter cookies with a delicate vanilla and almond flavor, perfect for piping into elegant shapes and optionally dipped in chocolate or decorated with cherries and sprinkles. These cookies are simple to make, requiring chilling for perfect shape retention and baked to a light golden finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1–2 Tablespoons (15–30ml) milk

Optional Decoration

  • 4 ounces (113g) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • maraschino cherries
  • sprinkles or coarse sugar

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Read through the entire recipe and Notes before starting to ensure process understanding and to prepare your workspace.
  2. Prepare Chilling Space: Make space in your refrigerator for a baking sheet, as the shaped cookies need to chill for 20–30 minutes to prevent spreading during baking.
  3. Line Baking Sheets: Line 2–3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats, or leave unlined (if unlined, do not grease).
  4. Mix Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a handheld or stand mixer with paddle attachment to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until smooth, approximately 2 minutes.
  5. Add Flavors and Egg: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, then beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape the bowl sides and bottom as needed to ensure even mixing.
  6. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: On low speed, add flour and salt gradually. Increase to high speed and beat until fully combined.
  7. Add Milk: Beat in 1.5 tablespoons of milk on medium speed. If dough is too stiff to pipe, add more milk in 1/2 tablespoon increments until dough is creamy but thick enough to hold shape.
  8. Pipe the Dough: Fit a large piping tip into a piping bag. Spoon a small amount of dough into bag and try piping 1–2-inch swirls or lines on prepared baking sheets, spaced about 3 inches apart. Adjust milk if needed for pipeability. Optionally, garnish by placing a maraschino cherry atop each swirl or sprinkle with sprinkles/coarse sugar.
  9. Chill Shaped Cookies: Refrigerate the piped cookies for 20–30 minutes to prevent over-spreading during baking.
  10. Preheat Oven: Set oven to 350°F (177°C) while cookies chill.
  11. Bake Cookies: Bake chilled cookies for 12–15 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Smaller cookies will bake closer to 12 minutes; watch carefully.
  12. Cool Cookies: Remove from oven; cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
  13. Optional Chocolate Dip: Melt chopped semi-sweet chocolate using a double boiler or microwave in 20-second increments stirring thoroughly after each until smooth. Dip cooled cookies into chocolate and optionally add sprinkles. Let chocolate set at room temperature for about 1 hour or refrigerate for 20 minutes.
  14. Storage: Store plain cookies in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week. Cookies with chocolate or cherries keep at room temperature for 4 days or refrigerated for 1 week.

Notes

  • Chilling shaped cookies is essential to prevent excessive spreading and maintain shape.
  • Adding too much milk makes cookies spread more; use the minimum amount needed for pipeability.
  • Use a large piping tip for best cookie shapes.
  • Store cookies properly to maintain freshness, especially those with chocolate coating or cherries.
  • If dough is too stiff to pipe initially, add small increments of milk to adjust texture.
  • Baking times may vary slightly depending on cookie size and oven.

Keywords: butter cookies, classic cookies, piped cookies, vanilla almond cookies, chocolate dipped cookies, holiday cookies

Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/butter-cookies-with-optional-chocolate-and-maraschino-cherry-topping-recipe/