Description
A simple and classic Pure Vanilla Cookie recipe featuring soft, buttery cookies infused with rich vanilla flavor. These delightful cookies are easy to prepare, requiring common pantry ingredients and baking for a perfect soft and lightly golden treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the proper baking temperature before you start preparing the dough.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined to distribute the leavening agent and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition to fully combine and emulsify the batter.
- Mix in Vanilla: Stir in the pure vanilla extract until evenly incorporated to infuse the dough with a strong vanilla aroma and flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients on low speed, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough which can make cookies tough.
- Add Milk: Pour in the milk and mix until the dough comes together smoothly, obtaining a consistent texture suitable for scooping.
- Portion Dough: Scoop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough onto an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Flatten Dough: Gently flatten each mound of dough with the back of a spoon or your fingers to encourage even baking and thin cookies.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden, indicating they are perfectly baked but still soft inside.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes to firm up.
- Cool Completely: Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool fully before serving, ensuring the right texture and ease in handling.
Notes
- Make sure your butter is softened but not melted to achieve the best creaming results.
- Do not overmix once the flour is added to keep the cookies tender.
- Spacing the cookies apart on the baking sheet is important to prevent them from merging during baking.
- For a richer flavor, you can substitute milk with half-and-half or cream.
- Storing cookies in an airtight container keeps them fresh for up to one week.
