Description
This simple vanilla cookie will be your new go-to easy cookie recipe. A soft and chewy classic vanilla cookie, it comes together in less than 10 minutes and is a super versatile base cookie recipe. Read my post for more information on how to make homemade cookies!
Ingredients
- 225g unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 300g granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 320g all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 tsp (3g) kosher salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- Granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°f / 180°c. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper (you may have to bake these in several batches depending on how many trays your oven can tolerate).
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla together on high speed until light and fluffy (this step can also be done with an electric hand mixer). Add the egg and mix to combine. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl. Add to the mixer, and mix until just combined.
- Place the granulated sugar for rolling in a small bowl.
- Using a 2 Tbsp cookie scoop, scoop balls of dough (about 45g each) onto the prepared baking sheets. I like to do 6-8 on each sheet - start with 6 to make sure that they will not join together, and then move to 8 on the next sheet once you know how much they spread.
- Roll each ball of dough between your hands to form a ball, then roll in the sugar before placing on the baking sheet. Leave any mixture that you are not baking off just yet in the bowl and scoop just before baking.
- Bake the cookies for 11-12 minutes or until puffy and set around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool on the pan for 10 minutes - the cookies will deflate as they cool. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Repeat the baking process with the remaining cookie dough.
- Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature
Notes
The importance of checking the expiry date on baking soda
Another thing that is very important and will affect the outcome of your cookies is how old your baking soda is. I was caught out by this recently - I had added new baking soda to my container a few times without discarding the stuff at the bottom, which was older and had expired. My cookies came out super flat and a few other things I made also didn't work as well as they could have, so I threw the whole lot away and replaced it, and it made a huge difference! Make sure that you check the expiry on your baking powder and baking soda if you aren't sure!
What is a good frosting for vanilla cookies?
My Brownie Frosting Recipe (aka shitty chocolate icing) would be amazing on these vanilla cookies!