Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe
If you’re looking for the ultimate mashup of Southern baking nostalgia and melt-in-your-mouth goodness, you’ll fall completely in love with Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies. Imagine all the rich, buttery flavor of a classic butter cake transformed into handheld, pillowy-soft cookies and finished with a luscious glaze that soaks in for irresistibly tender results. Whether you’re entertaining, sharing treats with friends, or sneaking one with your afternoon coffee, these cookies are sure to become an instant favorite!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies is how such simple pantry ingredients come together to deliver big, bold, buttery flavor. Each ingredient plays an essential role in giving these cookies their signature soft crumb, decadent taste, and beautiful golden color.
- Unsalted butter (softened): The star of the show! Rich, creamy butter is what makes these cookies so tender and flavorful; make sure it’s fully softened for easy mixing.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and that classic crackly exterior, both in the cookie dough and the glaze.
- Large egg: Adds structure to keep the cookies moist and soft, and helps everything blend together seamlessly.
- Vanilla extract: Deepens the aroma and rounds out the buttery flavors for that true bakery-style taste.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the cookies their sturdy, chewy texture without being dense.
- Baking powder: Ensures a subtle lift, giving each cookie a soft, cakey bite.
- Salt: Balances all the sweetness and brings out the richness of the butter.
- For the butter glaze: A mix of butter, sugar, water, and vanilla is brushed on right as the cookies come out of the oven—this is the secret to their moist texture and shiny finish.
How to Make Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Tools and Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining your baking sheet with parchment paper. This not only prevents sticking but also makes cleanup a total breeze. Gather and measure all your ingredients ahead of time—it keeps the process smooth and easy, especially when buttery fingers are involved.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and sugar together until it’s fluffy and light in color. This usually takes about 2–3 minutes and helps to aerate the dough, creating that sought-after soft, cake-like crumb.
Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla
Crack in your egg and pour in the vanilla extract, mixing until everything is fully combined. These ingredients tie the dough together and bring out that buttery aroma which fills your whole kitchen with pure comfort.
Step 4: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Don’t skip this! Sifting or whisking ensures your dry ingredients are evenly distributed, helping the cookies bake up light and perfectly even.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually add the dry mixture to your wet ingredients, mixing just until everything comes together. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies, so stop as soon as there are no visible streaks of flour—soft and tender is the goal for Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies.
Step 6: Shape and Bake
Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts of dough and roll them gently into balls. Place them about 2 inches apart on your lined baking sheet, then give each one a gentle press to flatten the tops. Bake for 10–12 minutes, just until the edges are set and the centers still look a little soft—they’ll continue to finish as they cool on the tray.
Step 7: Prepare the Butter Glaze
While your cookies are baking, whip up the magic glaze! In a small saucepan, melt the butter with sugar and water over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely (it shouldn’t feel gritty), then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. It’ll smell absolutely incredible!
Step 8: Glaze the Warm Cookies
Once your cookies come out of the oven, immediately brush them generously with the warm butter glaze. Don’t be shy—this is what gives Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies their signature moist and shiny top, and allows all that wonderful flavor to soak in.
Step 9: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet. As they sit, the glaze will fully set, and the cookies will get extra moist and flavorful. If you can resist, these are even better the next day!
How to Serve Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies
Garnishes
For an extra pop of gorgeousness, dust your cooled cookies with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar or a pinch of finely grated lemon zest right before serving. The sweet glaze pairs beautifully with a delicate garnish, and a hint of color makes these cookies truly show-stopping at parties or on a dessert tray.
Side Dishes
Set out a platter of Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies alongside a bowl of fresh berries, a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, or a cup of creamy hot cocoa. Their buttery sweetness enhances almost anything, but they’re especially dreamy paired with tart fruit or a smooth, milky drink for contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack the cookies in a pretty glass jar with a ribbon for a sweet homemade gift, layer them between sheets of wax paper in a tin for holiday swaps, or display them on a vintage cake stand. For dessert boards, try alternating cookies with fresh strawberries and chocolate-dipped treats—everyone will be reaching for those iconic glazed rounds!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place any leftover Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and moist for up to five days—the butter glaze keeps them just as delicious on day five as they were on day one!
Freezing
If you’d like to stash some for later, these cookies freeze beautifully! Arrange the fully cooled, glazed cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or container. They’ll keep their wonderful texture for up to two months—just thaw at room temperature when you’re ready for a treat.
Reheating
To refresh day-old cookies or thawed ones from the freezer, pop them in a 300°F oven for a few minutes or just until warm. This reactivates the buttery glaze, making Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies taste freshly baked once again. Avoid microwaving, as this can make the glaze too gooey and the texture uneven.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes, you can use salted butter if that’s what you have on hand—just reduce the extra salt in the recipe to avoid making the dough too salty. The end result will still be rich and buttery!
Why do my cookies look underbaked in the center?
These cookies are supposed to look slightly soft in the middle when you take them out of the oven. As they cool, they’ll firm up perfectly thanks to the glaze and their residual heat.
Can I double the recipe for a crowd?
Absolutely! Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies are ideal for sharing, so feel free to double (or even triple) the batch. Just be sure to bake in batches so they have plenty of room to spread on the trays.
Is it okay to make the dough ahead of time?
Definitely. You can make the dough a day or two in advance and keep it tightly wrapped in the fridge. Allow it to come slightly to room temperature before scooping and baking for the best texture.
How important is letting the cookies cool before serving?
Cooling is key for the glaze to set and soak into the cookies, creating that signature moist, buttery bite. If you sample one warm (and who could blame you?), expect it to be extra gooey, but letting them cool amplifies the flavor and texture.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about sharing a plate of Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies—each bite feels like a sweet little celebration! If you love a good old-fashioned butter cake, this cookie version will win you over from the first taste. Give these a whirl in your own kitchen and watch how quickly they disappear—you might want to make a double batch right from the start!
Print
Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the rich, buttery goodness of these Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies. Soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies topped with a sweet butter glaze – a delightful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Butter Glaze:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Shape and bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts of dough, roll into balls, and place them on the baking sheet. Flatten the tops. Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are set.
- Make glaze: In a saucepan, melt butter with sugar and water. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.
- Glaze cookies: Once cookies are baked, brush the warm glaze over each cookie. Let cool to set.
Notes
- These cookies taste better the next day as the glaze soaks in.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
