If you’ve ever wanted to experience the rich, buttery goodness of Southern baking in a handheld treat, the Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe is your new best friend. These cookies capture all the luscious, melt-in-your-mouth qualities of the classic Kentucky Butter Cake, with an added crisp edge to keep you coming back for more. Perfectly sweet with an irresistible glaze, these cookies are a little piece of heaven that’ll brighten your day and fill your kitchen with warm aromas. Prepare to fall deeply in love with this truly comforting, easy-to-make dessert.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe calls for simple, pantry-friendly ingredients that work in harmony to create a tender, flavorful cookie with a shiny glaze that makes every bite special. Each component plays a crucial role, whether it’s creating that rich buttery base or adding just the right touch of sweetness and lift.
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened: This is the foundation of the cookie’s tender crumb and rich flavor.
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar: Provides thorough sweetness and helps with the cookie’s structure.
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar: Adds delicate sweetness and contributes to the cookie’s melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- 2 large eggs: Bind everything together and give the cookies their softness.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract: Deepens the flavors with a cozy aroma everyone loves.
- 3 cups all-purpose flour: The base that holds the cookie together just right.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: Helps with even rising to keep the texture light and satisfying.
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda: Works alongside baking powder to give the perfect crumb.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (for glaze): Adds richness and smooth texture to the sweet glaze topping.
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (for glaze): Sweetens and helps form a shiny, irresistible finish.
- 1/4 cup water: Creates the perfect consistency for the glaze to soak into each cookie.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (for glaze): Infuses the glaze with a warm, inviting flavor finishing touch.
How to Make Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. This prep ensures your cookies will bake evenly and release easily from the tray, making cleanup a breeze and keeping them perfectly shaped as they bake.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
Using softened butter, mix it together with granulated sugar and powdered sugar until the texture turns light and fluffy. This step is so important because it introduces air into the mixture, giving your cookies a lovely lift and softness that is impossible to resist.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, pour in the vanilla extract. This combination enriches the dough and ramps up the flavor to the next level of deliciousness.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually stir this dry mixture into your wet ingredients, blending just until combined. Overmixing can make the cookies tough, so go slow and gentle here to keep things tender.
Step 5: Shape and Bake the Cookies
Scoop the dough into uniform balls and place them on your prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Pop them in your preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn a beautiful golden brown. Once baked, transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before glazing.
Step 6: Make the Glaze
Melt the butter for the glaze in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring in the sugar and water until completely dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. The warm glaze will be poured over your cookies to create that signature Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe shine and flavor infusion.
Step 7: Glaze and Serve
Spoon the warm glaze generously over the cooled cookies, letting it seep in and soak through. This final touch is what turns these cookies into the Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe everyone will be talking about.
How to Serve Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
A simple dusting of powdered sugar or a sprinkle of finely chopped pecans adds a beautiful finishing touch. These subtle garnishes enhance the cookie’s rich butteriness and add a little extra texture and visual appeal.
Side Dishes
These cookies shine all on their own, but pairing them with a cup of rich black coffee or a creamy latte brings out their flavors even more. For a sweeter angle, a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes a lovely side that elevates dessert time to a special event.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve these cookies on a charming wooden board with fresh berries and mint for a truly inviting presentation. Alternatively, sandwich two cookies around a dollop of whipped cream or cream cheese frosting for a fun twist that guests will adore.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. This keeps them soft and delicious, just like fresh-baked, ready whenever a sweet craving strikes.
Freezing
You can freeze the baked, unglazed cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw at room temperature and add the glaze fresh for that perfect finishing touch.
Reheating
Warm your stored cookies briefly in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds or in a low oven for a few minutes to bring back that just-baked softness. If glazing after reheating, make sure the cookies are warm but not hot to ensure the glaze soaks in beautifully.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
While salted butter adds a little extra flavor, it’s best to use unsalted butter for this recipe to better control the salt balance. If you only have salted butter, reduce or omit added salt to avoid over-salting your cookies.
What is the texture of these cookies like?
These cookies are wonderfully soft and tender inside with a slight golden crispness around the edges, thanks to the baking powders and butter. The warm glaze adds a sticky, buttery finish that makes every bite a delight.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough, form it into balls, and store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. This can even enhance the flavor as the ingredients meld overnight.
Is this recipe gluten-free friendly?
This version calls for all-purpose flour, which contains gluten. However, you can experiment with gluten-free flour blends designed for baking, but keep in mind texture and flavor may vary slightly.
How long do the cookies stay fresh?
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh and tender for about five days. For longer storage, freezing is your best bet.
Final Thoughts
I can’t recommend the Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe enough for anyone craving an iconic Southern treat with a convenient cookie twist. It’s a recipe that brings warmth, comfort, and smiles to any occasion, whether you’re sharing with friends or indulging solo. Give it a try and watch as these cookies turn into your new favorite go-to dessert that everyone asks for again and again.
Print
Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Southern
Description
Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies combine the rich, buttery flavor of traditional Kentucky Butter Cake with the convenience and portability of cookies. These soft, golden cookies are drenched in a signature buttery vanilla glaze, delivering a deliciously moist texture and an irresistible sweet finish. Perfect for sharing or enjoying as a comforting treat, these cookies bring a classic southern dessert into cookie form with ease.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Butter Glaze
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which will help create a tender cookie texture.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Then stir in the vanilla extract until the mixture is well combined.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt throughout the flour.
- Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough which can toughen the cookies.
- Form cookie balls: Scoop the dough into balls roughly 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn a light golden brown, indicating they are cooked through.
- Cool cookies: Remove the baking sheets and transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
- Prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the granulated sugar and water, stirring continually until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Finish glaze: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract to infuse flavor.
- Glaze cookies: Spoon the warm glaze evenly over the cooled cookies, allowing the glaze to soak in for a few minutes, enhancing the flavor and adding a glossy finish before serving.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened (room temperature) for easier creaming and better texture.
- Do not overmix the dough after adding flour to keep cookies tender.
- Glaze should be warm but not hot when applied to prevent melting the cookies.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For a firmer glaze, allow cookies to sit longer so the syrup sets properly.
