Dreamy Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe: Sweet Southern Joy

Sweet, buttery cookies that capture the essence of kentucky butter cake have bakers everywhere swooning with delight.

These melt-in-your-mouth treats bring classic Southern charm to your dessert plate.

Soft, rich, and utterly irresistible, they combine the best elements of cake and cookie in one incredible bite.

The recipe promises a delectable experience that starts with simple ingredients and ends with pure indulgence.

Each cookie carries a luxurious butter-infused flavor that speaks to comfort and tradition.

Warm from the oven, these cookies offer a nostalgic taste that connects you to cherished culinary memories.

Dive into this recipe and let your taste buds celebrate pure, buttery bliss.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

Calories: 200 kcal

Servings: 23

What Goes Into Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies

• Softened Butter: Provides rich, creamy texture and helps bind ingredients together, choose high-quality unsalted butter for best flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create crisp edges, select fine-grain sugar for smooth mixing.
• Powdered Sugar: Contributes to tender crumb and smooth consistency, ensures even distribution of sweetness.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and add structure, use fresh room-temperature eggs for optimal incorporation.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile, opt for pure vanilla extract for deeper taste.
• Butter Extract: Intensifies buttery notes, optional but recommended for authentic Kentucky butter cake flavor.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates cookie structure, use fresh flour and level with straight edge for accurate measurement.
• Baking Powder: Provides gentle lift and tender texture, ensure it's fresh and not expired.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor, use fine table salt for even distribution.

• Butter: Creates rich, glossy finish, use unsalted butter for controlled sweetness.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweet layer and creates smooth glaze, helps create crystalline texture.
• Water: Helps dissolve sugar and create smooth consistency, use filtered water for best results.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth to glaze flavor, complements cookie's base notes.

Tools To Make Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Just Right

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining ingredients smoothly and creating cookie dough.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending dry ingredients evenly and preventing lumps.
• Baking sheets: Crucial for holding and baking cookies with proper spacing.
• Parchment paper: Helps prevent sticking and ensures easy cookie removal.
• Small saucepan: Needed for preparing the delicious butter glaze.
• Pastry brush or spoon: Great for generously coating cookies with warm glaze.
• Wire rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Important for accurate ingredient measurements.

How To Bake Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies With Ease

• Oven Warmup

Crank up the kitchen companion to a toasty 350 degrees. Lay down protective parchment paper on baking trays to prevent any sticky situations.

• Dough Creation

Transform softened butter, sugars, and sweet companions into a cloud-like mixture. Introduce eggs and flavor enhancers, blending until everything whispers together smoothly. Gently fold in dry ingredients, creating a tender cookie landscape.

• Cookie Shaping

Craft delicate dough balls about the size of a golf ball. Nestle them onto prepared trays with gentle breathing room between each treasure. Give them a soft, tender press to create a welcoming surface.

• Baking Adventure

Send your cookie friends into the warm oven embrace. Watch for golden edges and centers that look slightly shy and tender. They’ll continue their magical transformation while cooling.

• Liquid Gold Glaze

Melt butter in a small saucepan, inviting sugar and water to dance together. Remove from heat, introducing a splash of vanilla for extra charm. Keep the mixture warm and inviting.

• Glaze Celebration

While cookies are still warm and welcoming, paint them generously with liquid gold. Allow each cookie to drink in the luxurious glaze, creating a sweet, irresistible coating.

• Final Touches

Let cookies rest and cool completely, allowing their glaze to set into a perfect, delicate finish. Serve and watch smiles bloom with each delightful bite.

Flavor Additions For Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies

• Baking Brilliance: Each element of this Kentucky Butter Cake Cookie recipe can be enhanced with these expert tips and delicious variations.
• Butter Extraction Magic: Use high-quality unsalted butter at room temperature for maximum flavor and smoothest texture. European-style butter works exceptionally well, delivering richer taste and more luxurious mouthfeel.
• Gluten-Free Transformation: Swap traditional wheat flour with a gluten-free blend containing xanthan gum. Select a cup-for-cup replacement to maintain the cookie's tender crumb and delicate structure without compromising taste.
• Make-Ahead Convenience: Cookie dough can be prepared 2-3 days in advance and refrigerated. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap to prevent drying. When ready to bake, let dough sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to soften slightly before shaping and baking.
• Flavor Adventure Remix: Experiment with extract variations like almond, maple, or rum to create unique flavor profiles. Sprinkle crushed pecans or add orange zest to the dough for unexpected taste dimensions that complement the buttery base.

How To Serve Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Soft And Sweet

• Sweet Brunch Companion: Pair these buttery cookies with a steaming cup of coffee or chai tea for a delightful morning treat that melts in your mouth.
• Rich Dessert Platter: Arrange the cookies alongside vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, or a dollop of whipped cream to create an elegant dessert presentation with multiple textures.
• Party Snack Centerpiece: Stack the glazed cookies on a beautiful cake stand or rustic wooden board for gatherings, making them an irresistible centerpiece that guests will adore. Dust with powdered sugar for extra charm.
• Gift-Worthy Delight: Package these cookies in cute mason jars or clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon for a homemade gift that shows love and care, perfect for holidays or special occasions.

Storing Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Without Losing Texture

• Smart Refrigeration Tactics: Store cookies in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper to maintain soft texture and prevent sticking, keeping them fresh for 4-5 days at room temperature.
• Freezing Magic: Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bags. Freeze up to 3 months for future sweet treats, thawing at room temperature for perfect enjoyment.
• Strategic Make-Ahead Plan: Prepare cookie dough in advance and refrigerate for 24 hours, allowing flavors to develop and making baking more convenient during busy weeks.
• Glaze Genius: Keep leftover butter glaze in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week, perfect for drizzling over pancakes, waffles, or reheating for additional cookie batches.

Mouthwatering Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 32 minutes
• Yield: 23 1x

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Description

Scrumptious kentucky butter cake cookies blend Southern charm with sweet indulgence. Creamy, buttery notes dance across each tender morsel, promising rich comfort and delightful nostalgia for home-baked memories.

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Ingredients

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• 2 ½ cups (310 g / 11 oz) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200 g / 7 oz) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) powdered sugar
• 1 cup (225 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp butter extract (optional, for extra buttery flavor)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup (115 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter (for glaze)
• ¾ cup (150 g / 5.3 oz) granulated sugar (for glaze)
• ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) water (for glaze)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (for glaze)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring smooth cookie release.
2. Batter Creation: Cream butter and sugars until fluffy and light. Blend in eggs and extracts thoroughly. Gently incorporate sifted dry ingredients, mixing until just combined, maintaining a smooth, cohesive dough without overmixing.
3. Shaping: Form uniform cookie balls, placing them strategically on prepared trays with sufficient spacing. Delicately flatten each ball using fingertips or a smooth utensil to create uniform discs.
4. Baking: Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges and slightly soft centers. Cookies will continue setting during cooling process. Allow brief resting on baking trays before transferring to cooling racks.
5. Glaze Construction: Melt butter in a small saucepan. Integrate sugar and water, stirring until completely dissolved. Remove from heat and blend in vanilla extract, creating a silky smooth glaze.
6. Finishing: While cookies are still warm, generously brush or drizzle glaze across surfaces, allowing it to seep into the cookie’s tender texture. Optional second glaze application enhances moisture and sweetness.
7. Serving: Cool cookies completely, permitting glaze to solidify into a delicate, glistening finish. Present these Kentucky-inspired delicacies and indulge in their rich, buttery essence.

Notes

• Manage Butter Temperature: Ensure butter is softened at room temperature, not melted, for optimal cookie texture and smooth mixing.
• Control Mixing Technique: Mix dry and wet ingredients minimally to prevent tough cookies, stopping just when ingredients combine to maintain tender crumb.
• Monitor Baking Time Carefully: Watch cookies closely during 10-12 minute baking window; slight underbaking creates softer, more delicate texture with golden edges.
• Glaze Application Strategy: Apply warm glaze immediately after baking while cookies are still hot, allowing maximum absorption and creating a rich, moist finish.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 23
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 16 g
• Sodium: 85 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 27 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 35 mg