Here is my favorite recipe for butter cookies—it’s an easy one, and the cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious! A Mommy group friend made these for a Christmas Cookie Exchange way back when our babies were just toddlers. Now my toddler has kids of her own and I’ve lost track of the friend—but not the recipe! I usually always serve these cookies at my English Teas, as the taste is reminiscent of Scottish shortbread.
Important Tip: Do not double this recipe—for some reason, it doesn’t work out well.
Swedish Butter Cookies
INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup flour
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 300°.
- Beat butter and sugar and corn syrup together with an electric mixer for about 3 minutes.
- Stir in flour and baking soda.
- Divide dough into 4 equal parts.
- Roll each part into a roll about 6″ long and 1″ thick.
- Place on a cookie sheet—cookies will spread a lot, so space them equidistantly.
- Bake in preheated 300° oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Cut bars, at an angle, into slices while still hot—I cut off the rounded ends, then slice each roll into 6 slices to make 2 dozen cookies per batch.
- Cool on paper towel.
Coconut Butter Cookies
Mix dough as above, adding in ½ tsp coconut extract with the corn syrup. Cover each roll with ½ cup or more of sweetened shredded coconut. Press coconut on roll, slightly flattening the rolls in the process. Bake as directed.
Nutty Butter Cookies
Substitute 1/3 cup brown sugar for the ½ cup of white sugar. Stir in ½ cup finely chopped almonds with the flour. Partially flatten the rolls before baking—with nuts added, the dough doesn’t spread as much. Bake at 325° for 20 – 25 minutes.
Thanks for stopping by my kitchen today!

I just turned these into m&m swedish butter cookies as there is a kid in Grace’s class who has egg allergies. The kids wanted M& M cookies for their halloween party and this way I can accomadate everyone. We taste tested on thursday and they are delicious.
i love love love these cookies (but they don’t last long)
I never thought of M&M Swedish Butter Cookies! Great thinking Ellla! YAY!