Servings
Font
Back
0 from 3 votes

Italian Butter Cookies

Italian butter cookies are soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies that go perfectly with all things holiday. Serve up these tasty cookies with your next cookie exchange or at a holiday party and see how fast they become a favorite.

Prep Time
1 hr 20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 36 mins
Servings: 40 cookies
Calories: 50 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

  • 10 tablespoons butter
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg separated
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups flour

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cream butter and sugar together.
  2. Add the salt and mix.
  3. Separate the egg, set the egg white aside.
  4. Add the egg yolk and vanilla to the dough. Mix well.
  5. Fold in the flour. I prefer to do this by hand, it will take a few minutes and the dough will be crumbly but should come together when pressed.
  6. Shape dough into a log about 12 inches long. Roll tightly in parchment, making sure the dough is pressed together well. 
  7. Twisting the ends of the parchment will help this. Roll the wrapped dough on the counter a few times to ensure it is a smooth log shape.
  8. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
  9. After 1 hour, slice into cookies about ¼ inch thick. I get about 32-40 each time I make this.
  10. Whisk 1 teaspoon water into the egg white to create an egg wash.
  11. Place cookies on parchment lined baking sheets and brush with reserved egg white.
  12. Sprinkle tops with turbinado sugar or festive sprinkles.
  13. Bake at 350 degrees F for 14-16 minutes. The edges should be pale golden brown.

Notes

  • Another classic shape is a pretzel shape, refrigerate the dough after shaping and then brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar before baking.

Nutrition Information

Calories 50kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 5g (2%) Fat 2g (3%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 11mg (4%) Sodium 41mg (2%) Potassium 6mg (0%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 95IU (2%) Calcium 2mg (0%) Iron 0.2mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 40cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 50

% Daily Value*

Calories 50kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 5g 2%
Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 41mg 2%
Potassium 6mg 0%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 95IU 2%
Calcium 2mg 0%
Iron 0.2mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.