Our Best Butter Cookie Recipes

You’ll be out of the kitchen quick when you bake these cookies. The would be great to take to a holiday party.—Tammy Mackie, Seward, Nebraska

These tender cutout cookies have a slight lemon flavor that makes them stand out from the rest. They’re very easy to roll out compared to other sugar cookies I’ve worked with. I know you’ll enjoy them as much as we do. —Judy McCreight, Springfield, Illinois

I was looking for a light cookie that would freeze and travel well and couldn’t find one, so I created these. They are so good you won’t be able to eat just one.—Brenda Brooks, Bowie, Maryland

During the hectic holiday season, you’ll appreciate the ease of these irresistible butter cookies from Kathy Kittell of Lenexa, Kansas. It’s wonderful to pull the two-tone dough from the freezer and bake a festive batch in no time.

As a native of St. Louis, I wanted to make a cookie version of the famous gooey butter cake. And although many gooey butter cake recipes use a cake mix, my cookies are made from scratch.—Julia Nouss, Richmond, Virginia

I treasure my mother’s recipe for these comforting cookie pillows. The tender treats are topped with thick frosting and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts. —Jane Darling, Simi Valley, California

Beech Grove, Indiana field editor Sue Call suggests, “Add variety to this recipe by substituting lemon flavoring for the vanilla plus a teaspoon of lemon peel.”

These buttery little rounds add beautiful color to a platter of treats. Fill the thumbprint in the center with any fruit preserves you like. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

I have fond memories of baking and frosting these cutout cookies with my mom. Now I carry on the tradition with my kids. It’s a messy but fun day! —Sandy Nace, Greensburg, Kansas

Cooling lemon and aromatic rosemary make these butter cookies stand out at the holidays. I use them to punch up the cookie trays for potlucks or as gifts.—Elizabeth Hokanson, Arborg, Manitoba

Tangy boysenberry is an unusual for a cookie, but it goes well with chocolate. I change the sprinkles and even the type of chocolate to suit the season.—Amy Sauerwalt, Columbia, Maryland

My mom gave me this recipe in a special recipe collection when I got married. I make goodie boxes of them for holiday gifts for friends and neighbors—and everyone loves them! —Sherry Flaquel, Cutler Bay, Florida

This butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia

These wonderfully moist morsels are too tempting to resist. They melt right in your mouth. Rather than sprinkling the chocolate tips with nuts, you can roll them in red and green jimmies or leave them plain. —Charolette Westfall, Houston, Texas