Vanilla Butter Ring Cookies. These little cookies have a wonderful vanilla flavor and melt in your mouth. Easy to make! Have you ever taken a bite of a cookie and had that 'melting' sensation in your mouth? It's certainly a wonderful feeling indeed!.
Here, after much trial and error, I've come up with a cookie which gives you that 'melting moment', with a lovely flavor of vanilla on your taste buds, and a texture so delicate and scrumptious!
Think of a cross between a shortbread / Sandie Cookie, but finer in texture because here, we use powdered sugar and not ordinary sugar, which gives the texture a finer bite.
These are my delicious Vanilla Butter Ring Cookies. So delicious! Actually, you need to hide some once you've made them because they will all disappear as they're cooling!
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These Vanilla Butter Ring Cookies are perfect for the holiday season and if you wanted to make some for Christmas, they'll keep in an airtight container for a few days.
You could also dip half the side of each cookie in melted chocolate and throw some Christmas themed sprinkles on them if you wanted to make them look more festive.
However, taste wise, they don't need anything else added in my opinion!
If you've ever tried Viennese Whirls, these vanilla butter ring cookies are very similar. They melt in your mouth and taste a little creamy and luxurious.
This cookie recipe is certainly a butter based one and often known as spritz type cookies.
I used a Spritz cookie press to make the rings, you can use a cookie cutter if you wish!
We've got a great collection of cookies so if you're looking for a few more cookie recipes, look no further! So let's see how we make our Vanilla Butter Ring Cookies.
If you enjoy using cream cheese in cookies, check out this super easy Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. It's perfect for snacks and always a hit!
Prep time
15 minutes
Baking time
8-10 mins
Serving size
24 Approx
an UN-GREASED baking tray
Ingredients
½ cup or 110 g Butter
1 ½ oz or 40 g Cream Cheese
¼ cup or 50 g Sugar
½ tsp Vanilla extract
1 cup or 125 g sifted All Purpose Flour
Instructions
1. Place sieved flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add butter in 1 cm (¼ inch) cubes (distribute evenly over the flour)
3. Add cream cheese and vanilla extract. Red or Green Food colouring may also be added for a ‘Christmas theme’.
4. Mix together very well using hands until the ingredients form a dough. You should be able to have a ‘clean’ mixing bowl with no crumbs.
5. Cover & place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to firm up.
6. Fill the cookie press half full and use a template of your choice, or roll out to 1 cm thick and use a cookie cutter. Place cookies on the UNGREASED baking tray 2 finger widths apart. They shouldn't spread too much so you could place them a little closer.
OPTIONAL: Prior to placing in the oven, some chopped almonds can be sprinkled on the cookies and gently pushed down (be careful not to squash the cookie shape!).
7. Bake in preheated oven at 350F, 180C, Gas 4 for 8 - 10 minutes or until the edges just begin to slightly brown.
8. Remove from the oven, cool for 5 minutes on the baking tray then transfer to a cooling rack
Have a look a the short video below to see how to use a cookie gun. It's quite a good guide!
We'd love to hear from you and what you thought of our post. Did you make any changes or add some other goodies? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!
Recipe Card
Vanilla Butter Ring Cookies. These little cookies have a wonderful vanilla flavor and melt in your mouth. Easy to make!
Ingredients
- ½ cup or 110 g Butter
- 1 ½ oz or 40 g Cream Cheese
- ¼ cup or 50 g Powdered Sugar
- ½ tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 cup or 125 g sifted All Purpose Flour
Instructions
- Place sieved flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Add butter in 1 cm (¼ inch) cubes (distribute evenly over the flour)
- Add cream cheese and vanilla extract. Red or Green Food colouring may also be added for a ‘Christmas theme’.
- Mix together very well using hands until the ingredients form a dough. You should be able to have a ‘clean’ mixing bowl with no crumbs.
- Cover & place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to firm up.
- Fill the cookie press half full and use a template of your choice, or roll out to 1 cm thick and use a cookie cutter. Place cookies on the UN GREASED baking tray 2 finger widths apart. They shouldn't spread too much so you could place them a little closer.
OPTIONAL : Prior to placing in the oven, some chopped almonds can be sprinkled on the cookies and gently pushed down (be careful not to squash the cookie shape!).
- Bake in preheated oven at 350F, 180C, Gas 4 for 8 - 10 minutes or until the edges just begin to slightly brown. (see photo above)
- Remove from the oven, cool for 5 minutes on the baking tray then transfer to cooling rack
- Have a look a the short video below to see how to use a cookie gun. It's quite a good guide!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 66Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 35mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g
Here's a selection of our very best cookie recipes and so popular around the holiday season.
Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies. A lovely easy recipe and great for gift packages at Christmas!
Lemon Graham Cracker No Bake Cookies, AKA Graham Cracker Crust Cookies are quick and easy to make using basic pantry ingredients. Zesty and sweet, these cookies are great with a glass of cold milk!
Walnut Butter Cookies.
These walnut butter cookies are similar to French Sable cookies, crumbly, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth little cookies. Delicious served beside your morning tea or coffee.
Famous New Orleans Pecan Pralines. A great Southern, New Orleans institution! Delicious buttery brown sugar candy type cookie in one, made of pecans, butter, sugar, and milk. Great for Christmas time too!
Easy oatmeal cookies taste amazing! Soft and Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, this basic oatmeal cookie recipe is great on it’s own or you can add chocolate, nuts or dried fruit. A simple classic cookie recipe
Grandma's War Time Orange Drop Cookies are an old family favorite dating back to the second world war when rationing was in force. Grandma always came up with a great cookie for everyone to enjoy!
Gingerbread Snickerdoodles are deliciously soft and chewy brown sugar cookies flavored with ginger and cinnamon. A popular Christmas cookie.
Lemon and poppyseed thins are a very thin, crisp, buttery cookie, easy to make with a crunchy, caramelized texture. Delicious with a coffee or tea.
Amaretti Style Cranberry and Orange Almond Cookies. These amaretti-style cookies use minimal flour and have a light airy finish, fit to accompany desserts and drinks light as a feather and fat-free too!
Joy Cookies. This is an easy recipe packed full of delicious chocolate, coconut and vanilla. These go fast so be sure to bake plenty!
Delicious Pumpkin Cookies! Easy to make and they go fast so make sure you have plenty!
Gingerman or even Gingerlady Cookies! Very cute and fun to make, have fun decorating these!
Banana Drop Cookies. These are a light fluffy cookie and great for using up those overripe bananas! Easy recipe too!
Banana Bread Cookies. Yep... banana bread in a cookie! Easy and flexible recipe. Great for snacks, breakfast, lunch boxes or anytime!
German Star Cookies, also known as Zimtsterne Cinnamon Cookies are a wonderful cookie for Christmas. They're crisp, chewy and spiced with all things nice!
Pecan Raisin Cookies. Delicious easy cookies perfect with a glass of milk or cup of tea! Also great for gifts!
Pride of Iowa Cookies. Come and see what makes these cookies so special. Delicious coconut, black walnuts and oats make these cookies a perfect snack
Rum, Orange and Raisin Cookies - A delicious flavor combo, crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside!
Amazing Ginger Cookies. These amazing ginger cookies are a classic cookie, crisp and baked to give you a perfect cookie full of flavor. Perfect for Christmas or any time of the year
Chewy White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies.
Soft and Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these are the BEST EVER oatmeal cookies, loaded with white chocolate. A simple classic cookie recipe
Lemon Melting Moments Cookies - A wonderful gentle lemon flavor with a melting sensation!
Macadamia and White Chocolate Cookies. Perfect with a cup of tea or glass of milk! A very easy cookie recipe.
Chocolate Pecan Cookies are filled with pecans and chocolate, crispy on the outside and chewy inside, easy cookie recipe and perfect with a glass of milk or cup of tea! Also great for gifts!
Pecan and Raisin Oatmeal Cookies.
Soft and Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these are the BEST EVER oatmeal cookies, loaded with pecan nuts and raisins. A simple classic cookie recipe
French Palmier Cookies or Elephant Ears are a delicious little cookie filled with almonds and perfect for the holidays! Quick and easy to make too!
Grandma's War Time Peanut Drop Cookies is an amazing vintage cookie recipe and still extremely popular today! Great for parties and holidays or just simply with a nice cool glass of milk or cup of coffee!
Melting Moment Macadamia Butter Cookies . These little cookies have a wonderful vanilla flavor and melt in your mouth. Easy to make!
Fluffy Amaretti Style Lemon Almond Cookies. These amaretti-style cookies are as light as a feather and fat-free too!
Easy Molasses Cookies, flavored with Christmas spices, make for a delicious cookie, ideal for Fall and the holidays. Crunchy outside and chewy inside. Great with a glass of milk!
These Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies are packed full of flavor and incredibly easy to make. Loaded with goodies such as butterscotch and cinnamon, they're always popular and great with a nice cold glass of milk.
Quick Mix Spritz Cookies. These little cookies have a wonderful vanilla flavor and melt in your mouth. Easy to make! Get creative and make different shapes ready for Christmas!
Grandma's Crunchy Chocolate Chip and Walnut Cookies recipe is easy to make, and great for gifts. Loaded with chocolate and nuts, and perfect for the holidays
Kathy
says:Could you please tell me which cookie disc you used to make the butter ring cookies using a cookie press? That information was not included in your recipe directions. Thanks!
marciasikes
says:I just made my first batch of Vanilla Butter Ring Cookies! I’m hooked! They taste wonderful. I dipped a few in chocolate melts. Oh my goodness! I used an old cookie press that I bought used for making cheese straws. Rolled the dough rings in course sugar. I have an idea for dipping in white chocolate and sprinkling crushed peppermint on top.
I put my oven on convection convert and baked for 14 minuets before I noticed light browning around the edges. It would be a delight to give these as Christmas Gifts to good friends and to my mail lady!❣️
Can’t wait to make the Lemon Melting cookies too!
Lisa
says:Hello, I’m thinking about making these cookies today but I don’t have a cookie press, however would I be able to just spoon the dough into the cookie sheet?
Lovefoodies
says:Hi Lisa, yes of course. I would flatten them a little once they’re on the cookie sheet because they don’t spread much and you should then be able to keep the same bake time as the recipe. I hope you like them as much as us!
Karen R
says:I’ve pinned a couple of your recipes and really excited to use them. This and the Vanilla Pound Cake are on my list. Thank you!
Cheryl Sanders
says:I just wanted to confirm the amount of cream cheese is 1/4 cup? My daughters are making these cookies tomorrow and if the directions are not precise, who knows what kind of cookie we’ll end up with ;)
lovefoodies
says:Hi Cheryl, yes it is 1/4 cup. I have given measures to suit all the different countries our readers are from.
Happy baking!
Lorelei Phelps
says:Is the butter chilled or room temp.?
lovefoodies
says:Hi Lorelei, the butter should be chilled. What I normally do is cut it into small cubes and leave in the fridge until I’m ready to mix everything. Hope this helps!
Karen Milner
says:What about adding almond extract instead of vanilla?
lovefoodies
says:Hi Karen, any flavour is good, just be sure to keep to the same measures. Lemon is also yummy! Happy Baking!
disney girl
says:I would think you could double this recipe since 2 dozen cookies just wouldn’t cut it.
lovefoodies
says:That’s very true!! I made these vanilla rings and 3 other types of spritz so altogether, I was surrounded by a mountain of cookies!
Andrea
says:Making these tomorrow Thank You
lovefoodies
says:Happy Baking!
Tina
says:Do you know if this recipe would come out the same for high altitude ?
lovefoodies
says:Hi Tina, I can’t say, however, if you have had problems previous with butter cookies, I would advise making the cookies as per the recipe, then before the oven, place in the freezer for 15 – 20 minutes to really firm up, that might help if the altitude causes your cookies to spread? I’d be interested to know how you get on, so please do let me know and I can add any advice from you on the recipe for others who live in high altitude areas.
Thank you!
Delerese D. Douglas
says:check your cook book, some have that kind of information in them.
lovefoodies
says:Thanks for the advice!
Pam
says:How many does it make
lovefoodies
says:Hi Pam, the recipe is for 2 dozen if you make the rings approx 1 1/2 – 2 inches in diameter.
Dawn Bradt
says:Yum yum yum!! I will be making these. I often have troubles with cookie guns though. Is there a trick?
lovefoodies
says:Hi Dawn, there is a little technique to using one, and also a bit of fun practicing, but if you look at this video, it’s a little ‘old’, but you will get great tips, on how to use the press. Worth watching! Happy baking!
http://youtu.be/UEqqkx_YcdE
Mary Ann
says:This really makes me want to get a cookie press! I’ve seen these also with crystalized sugar sprinkled on them. Would that be done the same way you suggested sprinkling on the almonds, or would that burn too easily?
lovefoodies
says:Hi Mary Ann, oh yes! you must try and get a cookie press! i had so much fun with mine.
Your idea of the sugar would be absolutely fine. If you take a look at the main photo of the cookies, in the top right of the photo, I did some cookies with half a candied cherry (red) you know, the really sticky ones? They were perfect and didn’t burn at all. Remember, you are only cooking these until the edges just begin to brown, then they come out of the oven to cool and firm up. Your idea will be delicious! happy baking!
Loves Cookin'
says:I was thinking of trying almond extract. I have some that I need to use.
lovefoodies
says:Yes, that would be delicious! Also lemon is nice, here’s the lemon recipe for these cookies, VERY delish! https://lovefoodies.com/lemon-melting-moments-cookies.html
Tina Lucas
says:You could probably just drop them by small teaspoon fulls also.
lovefoodies
says:Hi Tina, the dough is quite hard and stiff so it is likely it will cook in the shape you place them on the cookie sheet, it’s not soft enough to ‘drop’, so I suggested rolling out if you didn’t have a cookie gun. If you do try the drop method, please let me know how it turns out re the shape etc :) Thanks for your idea!
Stacey Kochera-Kansier
says:hi, i dont have a cookie press, so i tolled them in to small balls and pressed them down with the bottom of a measuring cup with a little flour so it wont stick.. this worked great
lovefoodies
says:That sounds perfect Stacy! and very creative. I’m very happy you enjoyed them! Happy Baking!
Donna
says:Why does it look like they are being fried in the one photo?
lovefoodies
says:I think it is just the reflection on the photo Donna as I had to use the flash on the camera. As you will note from the recipe, there is no frying involved whatsoever. It’s not easy taking photos of food!