Basic Butter Cookies

Ok proud to present the blog’s first formal home baked treat!I thought to start with basics as many people would be wanting a general butter cookie recipe.I had got many requests for baked goodies and cookies were the main recipe requested.They wanted the very basic recipe to keep them “going on in life”!So I thought to post this masterpiece which will add zing and enjoyment to the general goings on!

This is the simplest and easiest recipe you can wish for.It contains ingredients which would be there on an everyday basis in your kitchen and you just need an oven to get started.However though most of us are expert bakers,there are some who need guidance from the very beginning.For those lovely friends here are some tips:

1.Always use unsalted white butter available in the market.Do not use homemade butter,margarine,low fat “butter like spreads” or vegetable shortening.Try not to use salted butter.If at all you are compelled to use it then omit salt from the recipe.

2.The butter should ALWAYS be chilled and firm while kneading the cookie dough.If you use melted butter,then the dough will not be firm and you will get doughy cookies.

3.Use Caster Sugar or powdered sugar for this recipe.Granulated sugar will make their particles felt in the dough and the sugar can burn on top while baking.

4.The Oven should be preheated before baking for 10 minutes at 200°C/390°F before the tray containing the cut out cookies is put inside.

5.The Cookie cutters should be dipped in a bowl of plain and dry flour before cutting out as they help cut neat cookies onto the sheet.

6.The cookie sheet should be covered with Parchment Paper before the cookies are cut out and placed on it for baking.

7.Invest in a kitchen measuring scale and a set of measuring cups/spoons as you need perfect measurements for these lovely treats!They are easily available online or in the home sections in the departmental stores!

8.Cool the cookies on a wire rack or a perforated plate.They will be soft at first but will harden as they come to room temperature.So handle them very gently!

So here goes the lovely recipe!Best enjoyed with a cup of hot tea!

Preparation Time : 10 minutes

Refrigeration time : 2 hours

Baking time : 10-12 minutes

INGREDIENTS

250 gms/1 3/4 cups flour(Maida)

100 gms/1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 pinch salt (omit this is you use salted butter)

2 tsp Vanilla Essence

1 egg

125 gms/9 tbsp chilled butter

METHOD

Take all the dry ingredients in a bowl.Make a well in the centre and break the egg into it.Add Vanilla Essence and chilled butter and start mixing gradually incorporating everything.The butter will start mixing into the flour and you will get a nice,smooth and firm dough.

Wrap the dough in a sheet of clingfilm and refrigerate for 2 hours.

After 2 hours preheat oven to 200°C/390°F.On a floured surface roll out the dough with the clingfilm into a 5mm sheet.Dip the cookie cutters in flour and cut out cookies with the flour.Lay them out on sheets of parchment paper on a tray or cookie sheet.

Re roll the trimmings into more cookies until the dough is used up.Bake for 10-12 minutes until the base of each cookie comes away from the paper and its golden brown on top.Cool on a wire rack till they come to room temperature.

Serve the cookies with tea or cold milk for an awesome snack!

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