Vanilla Butter Biscuits: Classic & Customizable

Soft, buttery, and elegantly simple, these vanilla biscuits melt in your mouth and can be shaped three delightful ways: rolled, dropped, or piped. Whether you’re making them for an afternoon tea, holiday gifts, or everyday treats, they’re endlessly customizable and don’t even require a mixer!

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✨ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✔ Buttery richness with a delicate crumb
✔ 3 shaping options: Rolled, dropped, or piped
✔ Endlessly adaptable – flavor them your way!
✔ No mixer needed – stir by hand if you like

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Ingredients

Base Dough

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened (European-style for extra richness)

• ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar (or vanilla sugar for extra flavor)

• 1 large egg, room temperature

• 2 tsp vanilla extract (or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste)

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled

• ½ tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp fine sea salt

• 1–2 tbsp milk (only if dough is too crumbly)

Optional Finishes

• Powdered sugar (for dusting)

• Lemon glaze (see below)

• Chocolate dip (see below)

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‍ Step-by-Step Instructions

1️⃣ Prep & Mix Dough

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy (2–3 minutes).

3. Beat in the egg and vanilla until fully combined.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

5. Gradually mix dry ingredients into the butter mixture until just combined.

6. If the dough feels crumbly, add milk 1 tbsp at a time until it comes together.

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2️⃣ Shape Your Biscuits – Choose Your Style!

Rolled & Cut (Classic & Neat)

• Chill dough for 30 minutes.

• Roll out to ¼-inch thickness on a floured surface.

• Cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Re-roll scraps once if needed.

Drop-Style (Quick & Easy)

• Scoop 1-tbsp portions of dough.

• Roll into balls and flatten slightly with your fingers or the bottom of a glass.

Piped (Elegant & Decorative)

• Fit a piping bag with a large star tip.

• Pipe dough into rosettes or swirls directly onto baking sheets.

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3️⃣ Bake & Cool

• Bake 10–12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. Centers should look soft.

• Let cool on tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Flavor Variations

Lemon-Glazed Biscuits

• Add 1 tbsp lemon zest to the dough.

• Lemon Glaze: Mix 1 cup powdered sugar + 2 tbsp lemon juice + 1 tsp lemon zest. Drizzle over cooled biscuits.

Chocolate-Dipped Biscuits

• Melt dark or milk chocolate.

• Dip half of each cooled biscuit and lay on parchment.

• Sprinkle with sea salt, crushed pistachios, or toasted coconut before chocolate sets.

Lavender-Vanilla Biscuits

• Add 1 tsp dried culinary lavender to the flour mixture.

• Finish with a light vanilla glaze or a dusting of powdered sugar.

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Pro Tips for Perfect Biscuits

✅ Butter temperature matters – should be soft but not greasy (press with a finger to leave a slight indent).
✅ Don’t overbake! They firm up as they cool.
✅ Freeze for later: Shape the dough, freeze on a tray, then store in a bag for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen—just add 1–2 minutes to the bake time.

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️ Gift Packaging Ideas

Cellophane Bags: Stack biscuits inside and tie with ribbon for a classic treat bag.
Mason Jar Gifts: Layer biscuits in a jar with parchment circles in between.
Gift Sets: Pair biscuits with a mini jar of jam, a cute spoon, or a few gourmet tea bags.

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☕ Serving Suggestions

Enjoy with coffee, a floral tea like chamomile or Earl Grey, or a tall glass of cold milk. These biscuits are perfect for:

• Afternoon tea

• Bridal or baby showers

• Holiday cookie tins

• Cozy everyday snacking