Best Mamas French Butter Cookies Recipes

MAMA'S FRENCH BUTTER COOKIES FROM VIRGINIA WILLIS

Steps:

• In a bowl, sift together first four ingredients. Set aside.
• In large bowl, cream butter and shortening on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add confectioners sugar and beat on low speed until smooth. add egg and vanilla extract and beat on low until well combined.
• On low speed, slowly add dry ingredients. Beat until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until very firm and cool, at least 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350. Take some of the dough and shape it into 1-inch balls. (Keep remaining dough in the refrigerator, as it must be kept chilled.) Place balls on ungreased cookie sheet and press with the tines of a fork to flatten. Bake until golden, but not brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool slightly on the baking sheet on a rack. then using a spatula, transfer the cookies to a rack to cool completely.

FRENCH BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in 2 egg yolks and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour and salt. Divide dough into 2 portions; shape each into a disk. Cover; refrigerate until firm enough to roll, about 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Working with 1 portion of dough at a time, roll to 1/4-in. thickness between parchment. Cut with floured 2-in. round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Whisk remaining egg yolk and water; brush over cookies. Create a cross-hatch design by dragging the tines of a fork across the cookie., Bake until edges are light golden, 12-15 minutes. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

FRENCH BUTTER CAKES (MADELEINES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter and flour 12 (3 inch) madeleine molds; set aside.
• Melt butter and let cool to room temperature.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs, vanilla and salt at high speed until light.
• Beating constantly, gradually add sugar; and continue beating at high speed until mixture is thick and pale and ribbons form in bowl when beaters are lifted, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Sift flour into egg mixture 1/3 at a time, gently folding after each addition.
• Add lemon zest and pour melted butter around edge of batter. Quickly but gently fold butter into batter. Spoon batter into molds; it will mound slightly above tops.
• Bake 14 to 17 minutes, or until cakes are golden and the tops spring back when gently pressed with your fingertip.
• Use the tip of the knife to loosen madeleines from pan; invert onto rack. Immediately sprinkle warm cookies with granulated sugar. Madeleines are best eaten the day they're baked. Leftover madeleines are wonderful when dunked into coffee or tea.
• Variation: Chocolate Madeleines: Omit lemon zest. Increase sugar to 1/2 cup. Substitute 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder for 2 tablespoons of the flour; sift into batter with flour.

FRENCH BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter and brown sugar with electric mixer equipped with paddle attachment, if you have one.
• Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
• Add egg and vanilla and mix well.
• Add flour and salt and mix on low speed until incorporated.
• Roll dough into three 1 1/2" logs, wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350° and line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll logs in turbinado or granulated sugar, making sure to coat them evenly.
• Slice logs into 1/4" thick cookies and place on cookie sheet 1" apart.
• Use a skewer or toothpick to make four decorative holes in each cookie, making the cookie appear to be a button.
• Bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
• Cool on wire rack.