Easy 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies

Effortless 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies: Your Go-To Recipe for Quick & Delicious Holiday Treats

These delightful 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies are incredibly simple to prepare, requiring just butter, sugar, egg, flour, and vanilla. In as little as 20 minutes, you can have a batch of these melt-in-your-mouth treats ready to enjoy! Their rich, buttery flavor evokes nostalgic memories of the classic vanilla cookies found at charming Christmas markets across Europe.

If you’re fond of European confections and looking for more exquisite baked goods, you’ll adore these Traditional Czech Linzer Cookies, which are sure to become a new favorite.

Classic 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies freshly baked, stacked on a white plate, ready to be enjoyed. A perfect simple dessert.

The Perfect Holiday Treat: Why These 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies Are a Must-Bake

The holiday season is a time for warmth, joy, and, of course, delicious homemade treats. These simple 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies recently became the undisputed star in our home, proving to be the perfect sweet for upcoming Holidays. The reason for their immediate success? My four-year-old son, who is an exceptionally picky eater, absolutely adores them. For a food blogger like me, a picky eater in the house can be quite a challenge, especially when it comes to dessert.

His pickiness is truly on another level. Not only does he refuse to touch any vegetables (which, for a child, is somewhat understandable), but he’s also incredibly finicky about sweets, including chocolate – a preference that genuinely astounds me. He’s turned his nose up at many of my past creations, such as these sophisticated Blond Chocolate Dipped Pistachio Financiers or the decadent 3-Ingredient Chocolate Coconut Fudge. While his refusals often mean more for the adults, it still leaves me searching for that one special treat he’ll truly love.

I still find it hard to believe his aversion to chocolate, especially when thinking about traditional holiday cookies. So, when the time came to bake cookies for Santa – a crucial yearly tradition – chocolate chip cookies were immediately off the table. He simply wouldn’t eat them, and Santa deserves only the best, kid-approved treats!

The inspiration for these cookies came from an unexpected source. Every Saturday, my son attends Polish school, and a recent lesson focused on the concepts of “yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” In his lesson book, the main character was baking cookies “today.” As we were practicing Polish the morning before school, he made the profound realization that if the character was baking cookies, he absolutely *had* to make them too. It was an imperative mission, and I knew I had to deliver.

A child's hands carefully dropping dollops of 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookie dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, symbolizing the ease of this kid-friendly recipe.

An Incredibly Easy Vanilla Cookie Recipe with Colorful Sprinkles That Every Kid Can Master

Once again, chocolate was firmly ruled out as an option. However, my son absolutely *adores* vanilla, so my task was clear: I needed to devise a quick and simple vanilla cookie recipe. I vaguely recalled a super easy vanilla cookie recipe from my days in Poland, possibly even printed on a vanilla extract package. It involved only five ingredients, and most impressively, everything was measured in “1” unit, except for two cups of flour. This sounded perfect! It was super easy, satisfied his vanilla craving, and I knew it would be a huge hit. My son would love to help, and the cookies would be ready in no time, a crucial factor for an impatient four-year-old.

However, a tiny hurdle presented itself. My younger son, just 10 months old at the time, managed to break *all* the eggs we had in the house. It became clear that holding him on my hip while attempting to make breakfast wasn’t my best tactical decision. He seemed to have a particular vendetta against eggs that morning, violently grabbing the carton and, with what appeared to be malicious intent, launching them to the floor. You can surely picture the chaotic aftermath!

So, a quick trip to the grocery store for eggs became essential for our 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies. Yes, one of those crucial five ingredients is indeed a single egg, and it was the only item not readily available in our kitchen. My older son and I embarked on our egg-procuring mission. While there, he spotted colorful sprinkles and declared that his cookies absolutely *needed* green ones. I must admit, it was a rather brilliant idea. In fact, if you’re baking for the holidays, choosing festive green and red sugar sprinkles would make these simple vanilla cookies incredibly vibrant and celebratory.

Back home, my little baking assistant took charge. He held the handheld mixer, carefully added all the ingredients, spooned the dough onto the baking sheet, and then liberally sprinkled the green sugary dust over each cookie. They looked absolutely fantastic, didn’t they? Seeing his joy and pride in his creation filled me with such immense satisfaction; I’m truly a proud mama.

Freshly baked 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies, adorned with green sprinkles, arranged on a cooling rack, showcasing their golden-brown edges.

The Minimal Ingredients Needed to Create These Delightful Vanilla Cookies

If you’re on the hunt for a truly VERY EASY cookie recipe for the upcoming holiday season, or simply any time you crave a quick homemade treat, your search ends here. For these incredibly simple 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies, you’ll only need a handful of pantry staples:

  • Fresh, unsalted Butter
  • Granulated Sugar
  • One large Egg
  • Pure Vanilla Extract (the secret to their delightful aroma and flavor)
  • All-purpose Flour
  • And for an extra touch of fun and festivity, optional colored sprinkles on top.

The result is nothing short of fantastic! These cookies boast a rich, deeply buttery consistency that practically melts in your mouth with every bite. The exquisite vanilla aroma fills your kitchen as they bake, setting a wonderful, inviting atmosphere. What’s even better? From mixing bowl to cooling rack, they’re typically done in just about 20 minutes. It’s a quick win for your sweet tooth, perfect for unexpected guests, or simply a spontaneous baking session with the kids.

Close-up shot of a plate of 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies, showing their golden texture and enticing simplicity, with a hint of green sprinkles.

Delightful 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies, simple and quick to make, perfect for any occasion.

5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies

These 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies are incredibly easy to make. With just butter, sugar, egg, flour, and vanilla, you can have a batch of these delicious treats ready in just 20 minutes!

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Course: Breakfast/Dessert, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 284kcal
Author: Edyta

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter melted
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1 tbsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • Colored Sugar Sprinkles optional, for decoration

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer, cream together the melted butter and granulated sugar for about 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
  • Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
  • Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined and a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
  • Using a teaspoon or a small cookie scoop, drop rounded portions of dough onto the prepared parchment-lined cookie sheet, spacing them approximately 1 inch apart.
  • If desired, gently sprinkle colored sugar or other decorative sprinkles on top of each cookie dough ball before baking.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your homemade butter vanilla cookies!

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 31mg | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
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Tips for the Best Butter Vanilla Cookies

While these cookies are incredibly straightforward, a few tips can elevate them from great to absolutely exceptional:

  • Quality Ingredients Matter: With only five ingredients, the quality of each really shines through. Use good quality unsalted butter and pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
  • Don’t Overmix the Dough: Once you add the flour, mix until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten, leading to tougher cookies. We want that delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture!
  • Butter Temperature: The recipe calls for melted butter, which contributes to the soft texture. Ensure it’s not hot, just cooled melted butter, to prevent cooking the egg.
  • Uniform Size: For even baking, try to make your cookie dough balls as uniform in size as possible. A small cookie scoop is ideal for this.
  • Get Creative with Sprinkles: While green sprinkles were my son’s choice, feel free to use any color or mix of sprinkles to match the occasion. Chocolate chips, a drizzle of glaze, or a dusting of powdered sugar would also be delightful additions.
  • Storage: Store these butter vanilla cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week to maintain their freshness and tender crumb. They also freeze wonderfully for longer storage.

Serving Suggestions and Why They’re Perfect for Any Occasion

These 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies are versatile and perfect for a variety of occasions:

  • Holiday Platters: Their classic flavor and simple charm make them a welcome addition to any holiday cookie spread.
  • Coffee & Tea Time: They pair beautifully with a warm cup of coffee, tea, or even a glass of milk, making them ideal for an afternoon treat.
  • Homemade Gifts: Package them in a pretty tin or cellophane bag for a thoughtful, handmade gift that friends, family, and neighbors will truly appreciate.
  • Kids’ Parties: Easy to make and universally loved, they’re a guaranteed hit at children’s gatherings. Let the kids help with the sprinkles for an engaging activity!
  • Everyday Snacking: Sometimes, you just need a simple, comforting cookie. These fit the bill perfectly for an everyday indulgence.

A festive close-up of 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies with green sprinkles, arranged on a plate with a holiday ornament, ready for celebration.

I hope these delightful 5-Ingredient Butter Vanilla Cookies bring as much joy and deliciousness to your home as they have to mine. Their simplicity, speed, and irresistible taste make them a timeless classic perfect for any celebration or simply a sweet moment with loved ones.

Learn more about the author, Edyta, here or follow Eating European on social media for daily inspiration and recipes: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.

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