Soft Buttermilk Cutout Cookies & Icing!

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Just saying, these Soft Buttermilk Cutout Cookies make my heart melt. Slightly tangy, these Old Fashioned Buttermilk Cookies are so soft and delicious and have a hint of vanilla flavor that make them incredibly delightful! We vanilla glazed them too for extra sweetness!  Perfect for Valentine’s Day! 

More Sweet Treats? You’ll love these Super Soft Lemon Glazed Sugar CookiesRaspberry Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake and these amazing Best No Chill Sugar Cut Out Cookies!

Soft Buttermilk {Cutout} Cookies & Icing!

Hmm… Let’s see….Homemade, comforting old-fashioned soft sugar cookies made with buttermilk!  Is this not delightful?  

What I’m trying to say is, these sugar cookies make you feel all warm and cozy inside cause they’re that ‘special’.  I’m all S&D up in here!  <— Swooning & Drooling! 🙂

soft buttermilk cookie recipe

I went to Florida with my sister, to visit my kids, our mom and dad and our brother & his wife a week ago and I made these cookies before I left.  They they were so incredibly delicious! 

I had asked my husband to take the remaining cookies into work, but for some reason or another, he said he didn’t get it done?  Anyways,  a few cookies were still in the same tub when I came home, and they looked good, so I ate one, then two. I was gone a total of 7 days and I kid you not, these cookies tastes just as soft, moist and fresh as they did when I left. 

Impressive, right?  They didn’t get cakey or too soft, they stayed the same consistency when they were made!  I loved this! 

soft buttermilk cookie recipe

Ingredients You Need Soft Buttermilk Cookie Recipe

Soft Buttermilk Sugar Cookies

  • all purpose flour
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • sugar
  • butter, very softened
  • buttermilk – if you don’t have buttermilk, you can make it easily with any milk, lemon juice or vinegar – Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a measuring cup. Pour milk to the 1-cup line (use this same ratio of lemon juice/vinegar to milk when you need more or less than 1 cup of buttermilk). Stir and let sit to thicken for 5 minutes. 
  • egg
  • vanilla extract
  • almond extract, optional

Vanilla Icing

  • powdered sugar
  • almond milk or milk
  • Optional: Food Coloring Sprinkles
  • vanilla extract can also use other extracts, but use them sparingly to get the flavor you want, without overpowering the flavor.

soft buttermilk cookie recipe with icing for valentine's day

How to Make Old Fashioned Buttermilk Cookies 

Soft Buttermilk {Cutout} Cookies Recipe

  1. In a medium bowl, sift dry ingredients of flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
  2. In another large bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar.
  3. Beat in buttermilk, egg and vanilla.
  4. Gradually add in the flour mixture, mixing on low speed until all the dough is combined.
  5. Wrap cookie dough in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours or refrigerate overnight or until ready to use.
  6. Preheat oven to 375F.
  7. Roll dough out to your preference. (I like a thicker cookie, about ⅓”, but if you prefer ¼” that works!)
  8. Use a lightly floured surface and a floured cookie cutter to make desired shapes and place cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  9. Chill dough for a few minutes if it becomes too warm to handle easily.
  10. Bake for 6-7 minutes until the edges are slightly firm to the touch, but cookies should not be browned, except the bottom of the cookie will be a light brown.
  11. Cool completely on a wire rack before icing.
  12. Makes 2-3 dozen, depending on the size of the cookie cutters used.

Vanilla Icing Frosting

  1. Mix the powdered sugar and milk with a whisk until smooth and powdered sugar has dissolved..
  2. You can make it thinner or thicker by adding more milk or more powdered sugar.
  3. For coloring, divide icing for 2 colors or just make 1 color.
  4. You can ice them different ways.
  5. You can dip the front side of the cookie in the icing and place on wire rack to let set.
  6. Or….you can add icing to a ziploc bag and pipe zigzags or outline the cookies and fill in the cookies and then use a knife to spread the icing. Or both! Mix it up!
  7. The glaze will dry immediately, so if you are adding any sprinkles, you need to do this rather quickly.

Cookie Tips

  • Let the cookies sit until the icing has time to harden, it won’t take long.  You will be able to then stack the cookies. 
  • Buttermilk – if you don’t have buttermilk, you can make it easily with any milk, lemon juice or vinegar – Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a measuring cup. Pour milk to the 1-cup line (use this same ratio of lemon juice/vinegar to milk when you need more or less than 1 cup of buttermilk). Stir and let sit to thicken for 5 minutes.

holiday treats

Storing Cookies

Store cookies at room temperature for 5-7 days in airtight container.

Freezing Cookies Before Baking

Simply prepare recipe as directed, scoop out the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze for about an hour. After an hour, remove from freezer and place all of the solid cookie dough balls into an airtight container or sealable plastic bag, removing as much air as possible. Bake these cookies directly from the freezer, just be sure to add 1-3 minutes to the baking time.

Freezing After Baking

Make sure the cookies are cooled, then place in an airtight container in single layers. Use wax paper between each layer and store them for a few months in the freezer.

holiday treats

This soft buttermilk cookie recipe from is seriously OFF THE HOOK!  I made slight adjustments to the original recipe, but it really is a wonderful soft buttermilk cookie recipe for every holiday, every day, every moment!  You will be S&D!! 🙂   Happy Baking!    🙂 

You might love these Chocolate Heart Peanut Butter Cookies or these Homemade Oreo Heart Sandwich Cookies if you want heart shapes!

More Dessert Yums!

Soft Buttermilk {Cutout} Cookies & Icing!

Soft Buttermilk {Cutout} Cookies & Icing!

Kim Lange
These slightly tangy, buttermilk cookies are so soft and delicious and have a hint of vanilla flavor that make them incredibly delightful! They stay moist and fresh for days too!
4.06 from 17 votes
Course Dessert
Calories

Ingredients
  

Soft Buttermilk {Cutout} Cookies

  • 2 & ¾ cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter very softened
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp almond extract

Icing

  • 1 & 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 6 teaspoons almond milk or milk
  • Optional: Food Coloring Sprinkles
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract can also use other extracts, but use them sparingly to get the flavor you want, without overpowering the flavor.

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • In a large bowl, using a mixer, cream the butter and sugar.
  • Beat in buttermilk, egg and vanilla.
  • Gradually add in the flour mixture, mixing on low speed until all the dough is combined.
  • Wrap cookie dough in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours or refrigerate overnight or until ready to use.
  • Preheat oven to 375F.
  • Roll dough out to your preference. (I like a thicker cookie, about 1/3", but if you prefer 1/4" that works!)
  • Use a lightly floured surface and a floured cookie cutter to make desired shapes and place cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Chill dough for a few minutes if it becomes too warm to handle easily.
  • Bake for 6-7 minutes until the edges are slightly firm to the touch, but cookies should not be browned, except the bottom of the cookie will be a light brown.
  • Cool completely on a wire rack before icing.
  • Makes 2-3 dozen, depending on the size of the cookie cutters used.

Icing

  • Mix the powdered sugar and milk with a whisk until smooth and powdered sugar has dissolved..
  • You can make it thinner or thicker by adding more milk or more powdered sugar.
  • For coloring, divide icing for 2 colors or just make 1 color.
  • You can ice them different ways.
  • You can dip the front side of the cookie in the icing and place on wire rack to let set.
  • Or....you can add icing to a ziploc bag and pipe zigzags or outline the cookies and fill in the cookies and then use a knife to spread the icing. Or both! Mix it up!
  • The glaze will dry immediately, so if you are adding any sprinkles, you need to do this rather quickly.

Notes

  • To make buttermilk - Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a measuring cup. Pour milk to the 1-cup line (use this same ratio of lemon juice/vinegar to milk when you need more or less than 1 cup of buttermilk).  Stir and let sit to thicken for 5 minutes. 
Keyword buttermilk, cookies, cut-out cookies, sugar cookie icing, sugar cookies, valentine's day cookies
Tried This Recipe?Let us know how it was by commenting below!

 

22 Comments

  1. Thank you Laura. It was my pleasure stopping by Sweet and Savoury Sunday! I enjoy all the link ups and who doesn’t like a party right? Thanks so much for posting!

  2. How pretty, they look lovely and buttery yum! Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!! Laura@Baking in Pyjamas

  3. Thank you so much for featuring my Soft Buttermilk {Cut-Out} Cookies! Most Viewed is very, very cool! Thanks so much for hosting such a great party.

  4. Hi Becky! So glad you stopped by and I would love to connect! I just checked out your blog! 🙂 Thanks for the nice compliment and I love cookies too!!! 🙂 I’m kind of obsessed with them! 🙂

  5. Hi Channing! Budget friendly? Hmmm…buttermilk you can make with milk and add a little vinegar (about 1/2 teaspoon or so) and let it sit for a few minutes. The rest of the ingredients you probably have? The only other thing that might be a little pricey might be the sprinkles, but you can use colored sugar or whatever you have on hand. Hope that helps? 🙂

  6. Yum! These look great. I love cookies. I’m a new food blogger and found you on a link party. I’ve followed your social sites and hope we can connect on those. Can’t wait to read more of your blog. Becky at CookingWithVinyl .com

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