Vanilla Cookies

Never underestimate the appeal of simple vanilla cookies. These will be gobbled up in no time because their thin, crispy, chewy, buttery, and vanilla-rich texture and flavor cannot be denied.

Vanilla cookies can be served as they are, simple and beautiful, or you can add frosting, sprinkles, or sanding sugar. They're essentially a blank canvas for whatever you need. Like the flavor but want something a bit more crowd-friendly? Try our sugar cookie bars.

Learn how to make vanilla cookies, and add them to your regular baking rotation.

Ingredients for Vanilla Cookies

The ingredients for this vanilla cookie recipe are simple and classic. You likely have all these on hand already:

• All-purpose flour: This is the right flour for the chewy, soft texture you want in vanilla cookies.
• Table salt: A hint of salt is needed to balance the sweetness of the cookie.
• Baking soda: The leavener for these cookies helps them spread and puff just enough.
• Unsalted butter: If you use salted butter, skip the table salt.
• Granulated sugar: The perfect sweetener for flavor and texture.
• Vanilla extract: An essential baking ingredient, it adds warmth and is of course the star of vanilla cookies. You could also use an equal amount of vanilla bean paste.

How To Make Vanilla Cookies

This recipe is a classic homemade cookie recipe, simple and straightforward. The full recipe is below, but here's a brief outline:

• Make the cookie dough: Combine the dry ingredients. Cream the butter and sugar to add air so the cookies will be fluffy and light. Be sure to scrape down the sides so it's all well mixed. Add the vanilla extract and eggs, and lastly, stir in the dry ingredients.
• Scoop cookies: Use a 2-tablespoon scoop, and drop dough on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
• Bake cookies: Bake several minutes until the edges are set and the cookies are just beginning to turn golden. Remove from the oven, and cool completely.

Can You Make Vanilla Cookies in Advance?

Yes, you can make the dough in advance, and you can make the cookies ahead, too.

Freeze cookie dough: Make, scoop, and freeze the cookie dough until hard. Then, move the cookie dough balls to a freezer bag, and store up to 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy them, bake from frozen, adding a few more minutes to the clock so the cookies will be perfect.

Freeze cookies: You can bake the cookies and keep them in an airtight container up to 3 days before you plan to serve them. You can also freeze baked cookies up to 3 months before you plan to serve. They should be well wrapped in a freezer bag to maintain the best flavor. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Frostings for Vanilla Cookies

Vanilla cookies are great on their own, buttery and sweet. But if you want to add a frosting, feel free. A classic cookie glaze is perfect, and you can use food coloring if you want to match a party theme or holiday. Likewise, vanilla buttercream frosting is used for decorating and can also be colored. A chocolate frosting is excellent, too. Top any of these with sprinkles or sanding sugar for a sweet finish.

How To Store Vanilla Cookies

Keep vanilla cookies in an airtight container up to 3 days. The cookies may become a bit more chewy as the days progress, but they'll still be delicious.