Chaos Cookies (Easy Butter Cookies)
Simple, melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies the whole family can make together. Just 6 ingredients, no mixer needed, and endlessly customizable with sprinkles, chocolate chips, or whatever your kids dream up.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 57 minutes
Servings 36 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 2 sticks
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional Chaos Additions
- sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, crushed candy canes, or whatever your kids dream up
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes with a mixer or 5-10 minutes by hand with a wooden spoon.
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Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Mix until just combined — don't overwork it.
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Sift or whisk the flour and salt together, then add to the wet ingredients. Stir until a soft dough forms. Fold in any optional add-ins (sprinkles, chocolate chips, etc.) now.
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Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This firms up the butter and makes the cookies hold their shape.
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on the sheets.
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Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are just barely golden. The centers will look slightly underdone — that's perfect. They firm up as they cool.
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Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Store in an airtight container for up to a week (if they last that long).
Recipe Notes
Chill time is non-negotiable — warm dough spreads too thin. The dough freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Shape into balls before freezing and bake straight from frozen, adding 2 minutes to bake time.