3 Ingredient Butter Cookies (Egg Free Recipe!)
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If you need a simple yet delicious cookie recipe look no further than these 3 Ingredient Butter Cookies! With minimal ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, this classic cookie is sure to become a family favorite.
It’s a great recipe when you want a tasty cookie that requires minimal effort. And you’ll need the simplest of ingredients to make a batch – just butter, powdered sugar, and flour. They’re light, crispy, buttery, eggless, and can be decorated in so many different ways, making them the perfect choice for any special occasion.
These buttery treats are a must-try for any cookie lover. So whether you want to switch up your regular cookie rotation or impress your party guests, they’re sure to be a hit.
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We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
Crispy butter cookies are one of my go-to recipes around the holiday season. I always have these pantry staples on hand, one batch makes about 28 cookies, and they only require 15 minutes of prep-work. Talk about easy!
They also make for a tasty edible gift from your kitchen. We love making several batches of strawberry jam cookies, white chocolate peanut butter cookies, chewy fruitcake cookies and Christmas crunch mix for neighbors and coworkers during the holidays.
And our Mason Jar Cookies with Chocolate Chips is a sweet gifting idea that everyone has loved in the past (make sure you grab the free printable tags with the recipe). All of these are easy recipes that require minimal ingredients and effort but look like you spent hours in the kitchen.
3-Ingredient Butter Cookies Ingredients
- salted butter – soften at room temperature so mixing is easier.
- powdered sugar – keeps the cookies crisp and adds sweetness.
- all-purpose flour – measure by spooning the flour into a measuring cup then leveling with a knife before sifting.
Optional Decorations:
- white chocolate or candy melts
- rainbow sprinkles
- see more options below
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Buttery Shortbread Cookies
In a large mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter together until fluffy, using an electric mixer on high speed.
Add the flour and mix until combined. The cookie dough may seem crumbly, but you should be able to use your hands to shape it into a large ball. Avoid overmixing the dough or the cookies will be tough.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat and set aside. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Take the cookie dough out of the fridge and roll until it’s 1/4 of an inch thick. Use cookie cutters (or a knife) to slice the dough into shapes and place onto the prepared pan.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the bottom edges are lightly browned.
Remove the baked cookies from the oven and let them cool for 1-2 minutes on the tray, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating the cookies.
Tips for Making Three Ingredient Butter Cookies
- Because this is a limited ingredient recipe, it’s important to use high quality ingredients. We recommend using fresh, real butter so the flavor shines through.
- The powdered sugar adds sweetness and keeps the cookies crisp, therefore we don’t recommend using brown sugar and/or white sugar with this recipe.
- For best results, be sure to measure the flour correctly – lightly spoon the flour into a measuring cup then level it off with a knife.
- Don’t overmix the dough or the cookies will be tough.
- Chilling the dough ensures that the cookies don’t spread, so don’t skip this step.
- If you want regular circle-shaped cookies but don’t have a cookie cutter, use the rim of a small glass or roll the dough into a log shape and slice thinly.
- Don’t overbake the cookies – they’ll be extra crispy if you cook until they’re golden brown.
- If you’re planning to add frosting or icing, make sure the cookies have cooled completely before adding or it will melt.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- For a small batch – cut the recipe in half.
- If all you have is Unsalted butter – add a dash of salt after adding the flour.
- To flavor the shortbread dough, add a splash of vanilla extract, almond extract, or orange extract.
- Cookie press – instead of rolling the dough out, you can use a cookie press if you have one.
- Decorations – you can sprinkle with sparkling sugar or festive sprinkles before baking, or use a fork to make indentations or a criss-cross pattern in the dough.
- Holiday-themed – use different sprinkle combinations, frosting colors and cookie cutters based on the occasion.
Do I have to use real butter?
The short answer is yes. It’s a key ingredient and gives the cookies their signature flavor and texture. We don’t recommend using margarine in this recipe.
Can I make larger batches of this recipe?
Absolutely! Simply double or triple the ingredients to make more cookies. You may need to adjust the baking time.
How to Store Shortbread Cookies
Cooled cookies can be stored in an airtight container on the countertop for up to 2 weeks. If they are decorated, add the cookies in a single layer to the container and place parchment paper or wax paper in between the layers.
To freeze, add the cooled, undecorated cooking to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container and store for up to 2 months. To use, thaw the cookies overnight in the refrigerator before decorating.
Pair these delicious 3 ingredient butter cookies with a hot cup of tea or coffee for the perfect afternoon treat. Or serve them alongside your favorite ice cream for a sweet dessert option.
With just a few simple ingredients and easy instructions, you can whip up a batch of these tasty cookies in no time. Give them a try and see for yourself why they’re a fan favorite!
More Easy Cookie Recipes We Love:
- Hot Chocolate Cookies with Mini Marshmallows (Air Fryer & Oven)
- Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
- Oatmeal Craisin Cookies
- Soft Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
- Easy Texas Sheet Cake Cookies with Fudgy Icing
3 Ingredient Butter Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
Optional Decorations:
Instructions
- Using a hand mixer, combine the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until creamed.
- Add the flour and mix until combined. Dough may seem crumbly, but you should be able to shape it into a large ball with your hands. Don’t overmix or the cookies will be tough.
- Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll out about ¼” thick. Cut the dough into desired shapes (squares, circles, cookie cutters, etc).
- Place cutouts on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the bottom edges are light brown.
- Remove pan from the oven and allow cookies to cool for 1-2 minutes before moving them to a wire rack. Allow them to cool completely before decorating.
Notes
- Because quality matters with limited ingredient recipes, we recommend using fresh high quality, real butter.
- Softening the butter makes it’s easier to mix & helps to achieve the right consistency.
- Add a splash of almond, vanilla or orange extract to the dough for a flavored shortbread.
- Don’t skip chilling the dough – it keeps the cookies from spreading.
- To avoid spreading, don’t place dough cutouts on warm or hot cookie sheets.
- See the blog post for more decorating options.
- Store cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 weeks. If cookies are decorated, place parchment or wax paper in between the layers.
- To Freeze: place undecorated cookies in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and store for up to 2 months.
- Nutritional information does not include optional decorations.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
