Cultured Butter Cookies Recipe (2024)

By Melissa Clark

Cultured Butter Cookies Recipe (1)

Total Time
50 minutes, plus at least one hour’s chilling
Rating
5(1,758)
Notes
Read community notes

These cookies are crumblier, crisper and more buttery in flavor than the typical cookie made with high-fat sweet cream butter. Which is exactly why you should make them.

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Ingredients

Yield:5 dozen small cookies

  • 250grams all-purpose flour (2 cups)
  • 3grams baking powder (½ teaspoon)
  • ¼teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2sticks salted, cultured butter, at room temperature (1 cup)
  • 130grams granulated sugar (⅔ cup)
  • 1large egg yolk
  • 55grams demerara sugar, for rolling (¼ cup)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (60 servings)

55 calories; 3 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 6 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 14 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Cultured Butter Cookies Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt.

  2. Step

    2

    In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar until lightened in color and fluffy; beat in egg yolk until combined. With mixer running on low, add flour mixture until incorporated.

  3. Step

    3

    Divide dough into two balls. On a clean surface, roll each ball into a 1½-inch log. Sprinkle the demerara sugar over a sheet of parchment. Roll each log in the sugar until the outside of the dough is thoroughly covered. Cover logs tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour, or overnight.

  4. Step

    4

    When you are ready to bake the cookies, heat oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Use large, sharp knife to cut each log into ¼-inch-thick rounds. Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake until cookie edges and bottoms are dark golden brown, about 18 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature.

Tip

  • Measurements for dry ingredients are given by weight for greater accuracy. The equivalent measurements by volume are approximate.

Ratings

5

out of 5

1,758

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Michele

Would be nice if they explained what the heck "cultured butter" is. Do I take it to the opera? Expose it to ballet on PBS? Teach it French?

LWalker

I have also just learned a great tip from my sister-in-law in making these. Once you have rolled them into a log in the saran cut open a paper towel cardboard roll place it inside then refrigerate. This keeps from having a flat side on the dough.

Barbara

My grandson claims these are the best cookies he's ever had in his life. He's 14. They get raves from older folks too. My significant other is the baker. He's 91.

Baba

Oops. It seems European-style butter is cultured butter - at least according to what I read online.

Diane

I don't think I'm a novice baker/cook ... but I had to google "cultured butter". Perhaps in future recipes, you could insert a link to a description?

Suzartist

Delicious. They are small for a reason, they are rich. However they are perfect with coffee or tea to finish a meal. We accidentally doubled the salt (sea salt) and they came out just perfect. Cultured butter is also available at Trader Joes.

Penny

Fabulous sugar and butter! Melt in the mouth.
Dough is hard to handle with high butter content. Therefore, refrigerate in bowl for 30 minutes prior to dividing and rolling. Use smaller amounts than half dough to roll.

Chris

Yes, have made these for years (reg, uncouth butter) and frozen them so often my family called them slice and bakes. Also, rolled logs in chopped pecans prior to freezing.

Brandy

The description is to use a 'high fat' butter, but most butters are 80% butterfat. To get the desired 84% (or higher) level, one must decipher the fat content if butter package doesn't advertise it. The serving size will show 12 grams of fat or higher, as opposed to 11 grams. My cultured, higher fat butter of choice is Organic Valley's Pasture butter. It is salted, but has less than most salted butters. Hope this is helpful in making these excellent cookies even better!

Catalina

Diane,
Link to cultured butter recipe. Easy to make. It's available in better stores.
http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016206-cultured-butter

JW

Wow. Beautiful little cookie. I used Plugra salted butter and "organic cane sugar" from Whole Foods for the granulated sugar. It has a slightly off-white color and seems to have a bit more nuance than plain white granulated sugar. I also used this same sugar for rolling the cookies.

I would not, as some have suggested, add vanilla. Vanilla would overpower the buttery delicacy. I'm sure it would be delicious, but it would be altogether a different cookie.

Penny

Fabulous and delicate butter and sugar biscuits. Dough is very melty so best to refrigerate in bowl for 30 mins prior to rolling and refrigerating again. Also, half dough is a bit much to handle - a quarter is much easier.

DavidS

I just took a batch of these out of the oven...they are amazing and everything promised! This is definitely an addition to my holiday cookie repertory (and much less fussy than some other holiday cookies). I'm especially grateful for the discovery of cultured butter--something that was new to me but that I will be looking to use in many more ways.Note that "demerara sugar" is also called raw sugar or turbinado sugar. If you can't find it, just use regular sugar.

Irene

To die for cookies. I used Kerrygold Irish butter - delish!

Janet

The second time I made these, I froze one log of dough. The frozen or defrosted dough slices easily with a serrated knife. I bake up a small batch whenever I am craving cookies.

MichaelH

I skipped the demerara sugar. I didn't need the added sugar. I used confectioners sugar instead of granulated in the dough. These are my new favorite. They are SO delicious and melt in your mouth.

keeks

Do you think I could use this recipe for cut out cookies?

Brigid Hagarty

These are my all time favorite cookies!

cynthiav

I make these a lot. I have added cardamom and mini chocolate chips or cardamom and some orange zest. Delicious variation.

Gail

At the suggestion of my granddaughter, i rolled them in sparkling sugar of different colors. Makes them pop. They are the best cookies ever.

Tamara

I love that your granddaughter is helping you bake, that's so sweet!

John

As good as any butter cookie, only hauntingly deeper in flavor. Dangerous to keep around the house.

Monique Brooks

These are the best butter cookies I have ever made! They are the perfect texture and strike just the right balance of sweet and salty. Love them!

Joejoef

Not sure what I did wrong, but rolling into logs was impossible. I ended up spreading the dough onto parchment paper and baking for about 20 minutes. Epic fail...oh well, ya win a few, you lose a few, C'est la vie!

Roblin

Excellent. This has become my go to recipe to take to parties. EVERYONE loves them. They are just delicious. My husband has nicknamed them the ‘potato’ cookie because of the way they look with the demera sugar coating. Best cookie!

caryn corenthal

Excellent recipe. I weighed the ingredients and it came out perfect.

Nicole

These are incredible. If you are considering making them - just do it.

Mena

These are the best cookies I have ever made and possibly the best cookies I have ever eaten. Not difficult to make at all. I froze the logs, defrosted until I could slice them, and baked. Perfect.

Hannah

Amazing! I used Vermont Creamery cultured butter. I think it definitely makes a difference from using regular butter. These cookies are crisp, crumbly, perfect and with a surprising amount of flavor. I'll make them again an again.

Pamela

Now I won't have to buy Palets Bretons.

Elizabeth

I made these last night as directed. Used cup measures rather than weight. These are really delicious. Vermont Creamery makes a cultured butter. I found the butter at Walmart.

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Cultured Butter Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is cultured butter good for cookies? ›

While you can use cultured butter in any recipe, it really shines in baking. According to Deputy Editor James Schend, “it will only make things better.” Not only will the flavor come through in your bakes, but James also explains that this butter's slight acidity can produce more tender bakes.

What is the best butter for butter cookies? ›

The best butter for your baked goods depends on what type of recipe you're whipping up. Unsalted, American-style butter works well in goods like cookies, pound cakes and pancakes that require the high-fat content of conventional butter and more flexibility with salt and flavor content.

How do you use cultured butter? ›

Outside of simply spreading on toast or using as a dip for radishes, you can use cultured butter in any dishes you would use noncultured butter. However, because it is more expensive, I prefer to reserve it for recipes where the butter flavor can truly shine, such as shortbread, sugar cookies, pie crust and biscuits.

What is the difference between a butter cookie and a shortbread cookie? ›

Compared to butter cookies, shortbread uses a higher ratio of butter to flour, and is baked at a lower temperature. This gives it its signature delicate consistency that crumbles in the mouth when bitten. It's also often baked in a pan and cut up after baking, rather than being cut into shapes before baking.

Can you substitute cultured butter for regular butter? ›

Cultured butter can be used anywhere you would use regular sweet cream butter—you can use cultured butter in any recipe that calls for regular butter. It will affect recipes in a relatively subtle yet meaningful way. And it will only improve things, says Martano.

Is cultured butter healthier than regular butter? ›

Cultured butters contain probiotics, live microbes with proven health benefits. Standard butters, known as 'sweet butter', do not. Cultured butters taste AMAZING! Most people with lactose intolerance can tolerate butter because it contains only trace amounts of lactose (<0.7g/100g).

Is Land O Lakes real butter? ›

It's the very first sweet cream butter. Melted, browned, creamed or clarified, Land O Lakes® Salted Butter is the all-purpose butter that improves the taste of everything it touches. It's the original that never lets you, or your taste buds, down.

Why are my butter cookies tough? ›

Butter is an emulsifier and it makes cookies tender. It also adds in the crispy-around-the-edges element. Adding too much butter can cause the cookies to be flat and greasy. Adding too little butter can cause the cookies to be tough and crumbly.

What is the best flour for cookies? ›

All-Purpose Flour: The Versatile Choice

This balanced protein level makes it versatile enough to produce both soft and chewy cookies as well as slightly crisp ones. If you're looking for a safe bet or are new to cookie baking, all-purpose flour is your go-to option.

Do you refrigerate cultured butter? ›

Cultured butter typically lasts for 10 days in the refrigerator. – Butter easily absorbs other odors so make sure it is tightly-sealed. – You can also freeze butter – it will last for several months. Cultured butter is an exquisite treat.

What is special about cultured butter? ›

Cultured butter is made from pasteurized cream that's been exposed to live bacterial cultures (much like the cultures used to make yogurt and cheese). The bacterial cultures jumpstart a fermentation process, which thickens the cream and gives it a tangier, more complex flavor.

How long does cultured butter last once opened? ›

Store below 4ºC. Avoid water, air and light to keep it fresh for weeks. Make sure the butter always stays in the silver foil as it keeps the butter from oxidizing. Pepe Saya Butter does not change for six weeks with storage at 4ºC.

Why are butter cookies so good? ›

Butter cookies are classic cookies known for their rich, buttery flavor, and crisp texture. The flavor is lightly sweetened with warm notes of butter and vanilla. Similar to shortbread cookies, they are very popular around the holidays and are often given as Christmas cookie gifts.

Which butter is best for cookies? ›

This helps create more consistent results for home bakers replicating a recipe. In general, salted butter is preferred for cooking (or simply spreading) as it adds more flavour and has a longer shelf life, while unsalted butter is the go-to for baking.

Are chessmen butter cookies shortbread? ›

To make a copycat version of Chessmen cookies at home, the recipe is a simple butter cookie cut out in a special shape. A butter cookie is slightly different from shortbread but with a higher ratio of sugar to butter. This allows a butter cookie to hold its shape rather than having a tendency to crumble.

Does the type of butter matter in cookies? ›

Higher butterfat makes better cookies.

An average conventional American butter has an 80% butterfat content. Miller's butter is more of a European-style butter with 82-86% butterfat. 2% may seem small, but it makes a BIG difference in quality, flavor, and texture.

What is the difference between sweet butter and cultured butter? ›

Despite the name, sweet cream butter contains no sugar and it doesn't have any inherent sweetness. You'll find that it tastes like straightforward butter. In contrast, butter made with cultured cream, like Vermont Creamery or Banner Butter, tends to have a tangier flavor.

What kind of butter is good for baking? ›

The best butter for baking is unsalted butter. Whether that unsalted butter comes in sweet cream, European-style, organic, grass-fed, cultured, plant-based, Amish, or browned butter, any of these options that remain unsalted are great for baking.

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