These 4-Ingredient Butter Cookies Are So Easy, People Don’t Believe You Made Them at Home

The 4-Ingredient Butter Cookies Everyone Is Baking Right Now

Sometimes the most unforgettable recipes are the simplest ones. No complicated steps. No fancy equipment. No endless list of ingredients you’ll only use once. Just pure, buttery comfort — the kind that fills your kitchen with warmth and makes people ask, “Wait… you made these yourself?”

These 4-ingredient butter cookies are exactly that kind of recipe.

They’re crisp on the edges, tender in the center, lightly sweet, and rich with real butter flavor. You don’t need baking experience. You don’t need special tools. And you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen. In fact, many people bake these cookies on a whim — when a craving hits or when unexpected guests are on the way.

What makes this recipe so special is how simple ingredients transform into bakery-style cookies that look elegant enough for holidays, tea time, or gifting.
Why Everyone Loves This Recipe

There’s a reason this recipe keeps spreading across kitchens and family group chats. It delivers everything people want from a homemade cookie:

Only 4 basic ingredients

No chilling required

No mixer needed

Perfect texture every time

Customizable with flavors or toppings

These cookies are also incredibly forgiving. Even if you slightly overbake or underbake them, they still turn out delicious. That’s why beginners love them — and why experienced bakers keep coming back to them.
The Magic of Just 4 Ingredients

It’s hard to believe, but these cookies rely on just four pantry staples. Each one plays a critical role:
1. Butter

The star of the recipe. Butter gives these cookies their rich flavor, soft crumb, and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Using softened butter is key — not melted, not cold.
2. Sugar

Sugar adds sweetness and helps create those lightly crisp edges. It also contributes to the golden color during baking.
3. Flour

Flour provides structure. Just enough to hold everything together without making the cookies dense or dry.
4. Vanilla (or optional flavoring)

Vanilla enhances the buttery taste and gives the cookies that classic bakery aroma.

That’s it. No eggs. No baking powder. No complicated chemistry. Just balance and simplicity.
Ingredients List

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

½ cup sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

(Optional: powdered sugar for dusting after baking)
Step-by-Step Instructions
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