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Bakery-Style Italian Butter Cookies

A stack of golden brown italian butter cookies on a small white plate, one cookie is broken to show the soft interior.

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Make soft, buttery Italian butter cookies that melt in your mouth. This recipe uses simple steps to create tender, classic piped cookies perfect for gifting or enjoying with coffee.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Optional: Melted chocolate for dipping
  • Optional: Chopped pistachios or powdered sugar for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and creamy.
  3. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined.
  4. Sift the all-purpose flour and salt into the wet ingredients. Stir until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
  5. Transfer the cookie dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
  6. Pipe desired shapes, such as swirls or rings, onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about one inch between cookies.
  7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. Watch them closely to prevent overbaking.
  8. Cool the cookies completely on the baking sheet before moving them.
  9. If desired, dip one end of the cooled cookies into melted chocolate and immediately sprinkle with chopped pistachios or dust with powdered sugar.

Notes

  • If the dough feels too stiff to pipe, let it rest at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly.
  • For a true bakery touch, sandwich two cookies together with a small amount of raspberry jam or melted chocolate.
  • These cookies are excellent for holiday cookie trays or as homemade cookie gifts.

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