Slice-and-Bake Butter Cookies

Ingredients

• 1.75 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.5 tsp table salt
• 0.5 tsp baking powder
• 16 tbsp unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
• 0.75 cup sugar
• 1 egg yolk (large)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Steps

1. 1

   Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder together in a bowl.

2. 2

   In a second bowl, whisk melted butter, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until very smooth.

3. 3

   Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until well combined; the dough will be loose.

4. 4

   Let the dough rest until firm, about 5 minutes.

5. 5

   Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a log that is 1¼ inches in diameter and about 10 inches long.

6. 6

   Wrap the logs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.

7. 7

   Adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. 8

   Let the chilled dough sit on the counter to soften slightly for about 15 minutes.

9. 9

   Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

10. 10

    Slice the logs into ¼-inch-thick rounds and space them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.

11. 11

    Let the sliced rounds rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before baking.

12. 12

    Bake the cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until the edges are just golden, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through baking.

13. 13

    Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 10 minutes.

14. 14

    Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely, about 30 minutes, before serving.

Notes

Letting the dough warm to room temperature for 10 minutes after slicing ensures the cookies spread evenly. For butterscotch notes, substitute brown sugar for granulated. Tightly wrapped dough logs can be frozen for up to two months; thaw in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before slicing. Cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to 10 days.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• cookie
• baked
• butter cookie
• slice and bake
• vegetarian
• holiday