Description
Delight in these charming Love Letter Butter Cookies infused with bright citrus zest and aromatic fresh herbs. Perfectly buttery and tender, each cookie carries a subtle burst of lemon or orange flavor paired with fragrant thyme or rosemary, elegantly embossed with sweet messages to warm hearts and taste buds alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon finely grated citrus zest (lemon or orange)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs (such as thyme or rosemary)
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sifted powdered sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, emitting the gentle sound of whisking.
- Incorporate Egg Yolk and Vanilla: Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly until the mixture becomes smooth and glossy.
- Add Citrus Zest and Herbs: Stir in the finely grated citrus zest along with the chopped fresh herbs to impart fragrant and textured notes to the dough.
- Fold in Flour: Gradually fold the sifted all-purpose flour into the wet mixture using a spatula, just until the dough comes together into a soft but manageable ball.
- Chill Dough: Gather the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to relax gluten and firm up the butter for easier handling.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Set oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour a clean surface and rolling pin.
- Roll Out Dough: Remove chilled dough from fridge and roll it out evenly to about 1/8-inch thickness, preparing for embossing.
- Emboss Designs: Use cookie stamps or embossing tools to gently yet firmly press your favorite messages or patterns onto the dough surface.
- Cut Out Cookies: Using floured cookie cutters, cut the dough into shapes and carefully transfer them onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until edges begin turning golden while the centers remain tender.
- Cool Cookies: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, resulting in crisp yet tender embossed butter cookies.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming and better cookie texture.
- Use fresh citrus zest to maximize the bright flavor infusion in each cookie.
- Chilling the dough is essential for maintaining shape and crisp edges during baking.
- Do not overbake—cookies should be just starting to brown at the edges for optimal tenderness.
- Herbs can be adjusted or omitted depending on preference—thyme and rosemary work particularly well.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: butter cookies, love letter cookies, citrus zest cookies, herb infused cookies, embossed cookies, homemade cookies, holiday cookies
