Soft French Butter Cookies that melt in your mouth! These can be rolled in a variety of colored sugar for Valentine’s Day, Christmas cookies or more!

French Butter Cookies Recipe

I’m so excited to bring you these French butter cookies!

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays and these cookies are the perfect treat for your loved ones.

These soft and buttery cookies have a delicate vanilla flavor and the tiniest bit of tang from cream of tartar.

Imagine sugar cookies and snickerdoodles had a baby – these French butter cookies would be it!

We call them French Buttercream Cookies at our house.

I’m not sure what makes them “French” but they sure do melt in your mouth like buttercream!

They’re so easy to make – no rolling, cutting or frosting involved – yet they still look cute and festive.

If rolling and cutting sounds like a fun project for you, definitely check out my Chocolate Dipped Butter Cookies. They are sooo pretty!

These buttercream cookies are not just for Valentine’s. You can customize the color of the sugar for any event.

We always make them red and green for Christmas.

Also, instead of rolling in colored sugar you can tint the dough whatever color(s) you want.

You can also use sprinkles like my buttery Mantecaditos (Puerto Rican shortbread).

So many cute options!

These cookies are super easy to make, but there are a few things you should know.

Tips for the best French Butter Cookies

Measure the flour correctly
Chill the dough
Line the cookie sheet

For the flour it’s important to measure correctly – lightly spoon the flour into the measuring cup and then level off.

You will need to chill the dough for 1 hour before scooping into balls.

You could probably get away with 30 minutes of chilling, but I usually go long than an hour.

After rolling the cookies, place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

This prevents the cookies from spreading too much and from sticking.

And that’s it! Happy Valentine’s Day!

These cookies were baked in support of Cookies For Kids’ Cancer, a non-profit focused on pediatric cancer. I’ve joined many other bloggers today to raise awareness with our Valentine cookies.

Did you know that cancer is the #1 cause of death of children by disease in the U.S.? There are 40,000 U.S. children actively battling cancer right now and less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget going to all childhood cancer combined.

Help us make a difference by donating to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer! These three companies: Dixie Crystals, Mediavine and OXO will match our donations raised through this campaign up to $3000 each!

Donate here.

French Butter Cookies

Name: French Butter Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon cream of tartar; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature; 1 ½ cups powdered sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Colored sugar, for rolling; Food dye (optional)

Yield: 4 dozen

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Soft and tender French butter cookies that melt in your mouth!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Colored sugar, for rolling
Food dye (optional)

Instructions

Measure flour by lightly spooning the flour into the measuring cup and then level off. Whisk flour, baking soda, cream of tarter and salt in a large bowl; set aside.
With a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat butter and sugar on low. Beat in egg and vanilla.
Gradually add dry ingredients.
If desired, dough may be tinted with a few drops of food dye (optional).
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Shape 2 teaspoons of dough into ball. Roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Bake at 350°F for 6-8 minutes, or until set around the edges. Let cool on sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

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Silicone Baking Mats

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 48 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 73Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 39mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g

Nutritional information provided is an estimate only. Please consult the labels of ingredients you use for more accurate results.