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Recipe: Soft & Chewy Vanilla Butter Cookies

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When simple is what you want, these soft and chewy vanilla butter cookies do the trick!

If you haven’t noticed by browsing Pinterest or your favorite food blogs lately, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. It seems the entire internet has erupted in a fit of red and pink!

I wouldn’t say I love Valentine’s Day. I learned long ago, after a little phone chat with a famous TV Doctor, that piling up huge expectations on your loved one for Valentine’s day is not the greatest idea in the world. I found that even though my husband treats me awesome, does really nice things for me all the time, does the laundry, helps with the kids, works really hard so I can stay home to work and care for our kids, helps clean house, buys me nice things, runs errands, deals with my occasional high maintenance moodiness, helps out with dinner, etc, etc, etc. I was often becoming disappointed on the one day out of 365 that he wasn’t quite hitting the mark.

Seems a little backwards, doesn’t it? Don’t get me wrong, I think it is fantastic that there is one special day out of the year to go out of your way to show someone you care about them, but putting all your expectations and hopes on that singular day is not what it should be all about. Look at what your Valentine does for you every other day of the year and I imagine you’ll find they measure up beyond what a dozen roses or a new necklace would be worth.

I’m pretty lucky that my Valentine is a simple guy. His favorite cookies, a bowl of ice cream and a back rub and he’s a happy camper. So, this is why I’m presenting to you my simple Valentine’s day recipe… my husbands favorite cookies. Soft & Chewy Vanilla Butter Cookies are exactly what their title says. They may not be red, heart shaped, or elaborate but sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to hit the mark.

Soft and Chewy Vanilla Butter Cookies Recipe from Dine & Dish

Tips for amazing Soft & Chewy Vanilla Butter Cookies

These Vanilla Butter Cookies are so simple, but that doesn’t mean you should skip some of the most important parts. First of all, make sure you chill the dough. Definitely do not skip this very important part of the recipe. I know it’s really hard to wait sometimes, especially when you are craving cookies, but chilling the dough will help these cookies to come out incredibly soft and chewy, just the way you want them.

To get the most intense vanilla flavor, use a good quality vanilla. You also make your own homemade vanilla extract, which will give these cookies awesome flavor as well!

In addition, don’t overcook these cookies. The best way to make sure your Vanilla Butter Cookies are soft and chewy is to take them out of the oven when they still looking a tad bit underdone. If you take them out and let them rest on the hot cookie sheet for a few minutes, they will finish baking right up and will be absolutely perfect! Enjoy!

Soft and Chewy Vanilla Butter Cookies Recipe
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Soft and Chewy Vanilla Butter Cookies

You might think it is ironic that these butter cookies don't actually have butter in them. I've tried experimenting with butter and have found that I can't get the same softness and chewy texture with butter as I can with butter flavored Crisco.
Course cookies, Dessert
Keyword cookies, cookies using crisco, vanilla butter cookies
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
dough chill 30 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 2 dozen
Author Kristen

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Butter Flavor Crisco
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon butter flavor extract optional
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat together Crisco, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, water, vanilla and butter-flavored extract until well mixed.
  • Add the flour, baking soda and salt to the mixing bowl and mix well.
  • Cover and refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
  • Roll dough into 1 inch balls; slightly flatten and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
  • Place in preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes or until light brown. (Do not over bake. The key to these cookies is to take them out when they still look slightly under cooked. Allow them to cool and firm up on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.)

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Laura says

    I told my husband that I didn’t expect anything fancy for Valentines Day, but to not forget that our 15th Anniversary is this June… 🙂

  6. Pat Wogan says

    I, too, love how much you love your husband! You are both blessed to have found each other! Wish I had one of those cookies!

  7. *Just Fran* says

    Adding these cookies to my list for when the shearing crew is here. I am not a cookie baker, but they require a daily “something” for their after break. These should be perfect.

    As for Valentine’s Day, I also have to remind myself that my Hubs does so many things for me day in and day out. He isn’t a great gift-giver, and any holiday can be a disappointment if I don’t keep the proper perspective that he truly is a great guy.

  8. SMITH BITES says

    simple is perfect . . . in my humble opinion . . . and am totally w/you in celebrating all the fantastic things our husbands do throughout the year; yes, Valentine’s day is THE day set aside to celebrate but i thoroughly enjoy the other 364 days of the year too . . . great cookies, great post Kristen!

  9. Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says

    Such a lovely post, Kristen. I’ve learned through these last few months that I have an absolute gem of a husband too. I don’t want, or need, anything for Valentine’s day. He’s more than shown me how much he loves me with everything we’ve had to deal with. Those are some gorgeous cookies though!

  11. Jimi says

    Yum! I can’t wait to try these. I appreciate your words about expectations, such a good reminder and a perspective-shifter. Like you, I am so blessed by a husband who serves my socks off everyday. I want to remember that on Valentine’s Day.

  12. Johnna says

    What a lovely reminder to be aware of the love in each day, not just February 14th. And butter flavored Crisco. Really, what’s not to love about that? Must make these!

  16. Julia says

    Thanks for writing this post. Not only for the cookies (which look AMAZING, I love vanilla ANYTHING!), but for being honest about Valentine’s day expectations. It’s good to have that little reminder.

  18. Tickled Red says

    I just ove this post darlin’ 😀 DS and I have always tried to do one simple thing for each other on Valentines Day but nothing over the top. Your loves cookies sound perfect.

  19. Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says

    Such a sweet, sweet post. You speak truth. I’d much rather have a husband that does little things for me daily than “big shows” on special occasions. Your cookies perfectly fit this post, and look comfortingly delicious.

  21. Cookin' Canuck says

    You are absolutely on the mark with this post, Kristen. In the past, I’ve got my knickers in a knot when Valentine’s Day hasn’t quite reached my expectations. Crazy! Now I realize that it’s everything else my husband does that really matters.

    These simple, pretty cookies are perfect for Valentine’s, or any other day.

  26. Shaina says

    I love this, Kristen. My husband and I don’t “do” Valentine’s Day, so there are never any expectations. I agree that it helps with not setting yourself up for failure. (Plus, it’s cheaper.) Happy every day to you!

  27. Jennifer | Mother Thyme says

    My hubby is a very simple man too, that is why I love him so much! He would just love a big plate of these cookies with a tall glass of cold milk, and so would I!

  28. SuperJenn says

    I love this! These sound soooo yummy and right up SuperDad’s alley.

    He’s leaving on a hunting trip Friday and will be gone for several days…. I think I’ll give them a gluten-free whirl tomorrow and sneak some in with his packing!

  29. vianney says

    Oh aren’t our men great!! My hubby is very easy, simple and happy with anything I make. I do cherish this and pamper him any chance I get (he loves pecan pie), make mini’s to stash in the freezer..

  32. Sue/the view from great island says

    You can tell from the photo that these aren’t butter cookies, they have that wonderful chewy look to them, and even though people turn up their nose at Crisco, sometimes it’s just the perfect thing for cookies—these sound wonderful!

  34. patsy says

    You know, my husband is the same way… lots of nice things all year long, but just doesn’t understand why he has to do something for what he calls a “Hallmark” holiday. These cookies look wonderful, and I found the same thing… butter flavor Crisco is hard to substitute!

  35. Louise says

    Count your blessings…what a great guy! Thanks for the great cookies, too! My great guy is going to love them!

  36. Lea @gourmetmommy.com says

    These cookies look delish, and I couldn’t agree more about V-day! We actually decided to get married around this time just so we’d have a reason to celebrate something: our anniversary, not a hallmark holiday! That said, in the middle of February, it is kind of nice to have a little pink and red explosion when everything is grey and drab! Cheers

  40. TidyMom says

    these sound perfect Kristen! I have a simple guy too, who doesn’t usually appreciate all the things I bake, and I forget to just do the simple stuff for him….less stress on me that way too!

  46. Becky {Becky Bakes} says

    It’s amazing how delicious simplicity can be! These look wonderful…I think my husband would love these too!

  49. Trena says

    So I was unable to find the butter flavored crisco, so I did use normal butter, but I found that the cookies came out so very fluffy and soft and absolutely perfect! I added some chocolate icing to the tops of the cookies and it gave the entire cookie a cookie-dough type texture AMAZING.<3 -Trena, 16.

  51. Lindsey says

    I just made these and I CAN’T STOP EATING THEM!! Thanks for the great recipe. 🙂

    • Kristen says

      I know the feeling. My husband requests them all the time but I hate making them because I love them so much. I can’t resist these cookies!

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