If you love making festive themed cookies for the Holiday, this is the only cookie recipe you will ever need.
Changing the colors of the frosting, additions to the batter or sprinkles will give you a brand new taste and look every time you make them!
Check out the 15 additional options to add to this one cookie batter for a variety of ideas!
All from wholesome pantry ingredients and delicious every time.
These cookies are soft, delicious and can make several flavors just by seperating the dough and additions.
If you love using buttermilk try some of my other recipes like Buttermilk Chocolate Cookies, Strawberry Skillet Buttermilk Cake, and my Best Buttermilk Pancake recipe.
We love these on our cookie trays on any holiday-decorated so festively!
Scroll down to the recipe card for this easy and printable buttermilk cookie recipe and also check out my variations to add to this maverlous cookie dough.
Soft Old Fashioned Cookies
The best cookies are my oldest and favorites.
I love collecting vintage cookbooks and new cookbooks to get ideas.
These cookies have been made in our family for over 100 years and I adapt and change the batter to so many flavors, it's a definite favorite.
One cookie batter offers more than 15 different kinds of flavors just by adding a few other fun ingredients.
Optional Additions:
(1/2 cup and for extracts 1 teaspoon)
- chopped nuts
- white, peanut butter, mint or chocolate chips
- chopped candy bars of choice IE peanut butter cups
- leftover Halloween candy
- funfetti in the batter
- raisins and 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- craisins (also add nuts and orange zest)
- dried fruits
- blueberries
- chopped apples (also add cinnamon and nuts)
- flavored extracts in the batter or frosting: lemon. orange, maple, anise,
- zest of orange or lemon 1 tablespoon in combination with extracts
- pumpkin seeds and cinnamon
- spread with jam and coconut on top
- chocolate frosting instead of vanilla with mini chocolate chips
Holiday Suggestions:
Use Coordinating Colored Sprinkles or Tinted Frosting
- Christmas: green and red sugar or sprinkles
- Halloween: orange and black sprinkles
- 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day Veterans Day: red white blue sprinkles or sugars
- St. Patrick's Day: green sugar or sprinkles
- Easter: pastel-colored sprinkles
- Birthdays: funfetti colorful sprinkles to the batter or frosting
- New Years: silver or gold sprinkles
Tools You Will Need:
- parchment paper or Silpat cookie sheet
- cookie sheet pan
- ice cream scoop
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- bowl
- spatula
- mixing spoons
Tips
- Soften butter first or at room temperature
- Always use buttermilk (To make 1/2 cup of buttermilk substitute, add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar to a liquid measuring cup. Then, add milk)
- Do not overmix the batter
- Bake on Silpat mats or parchment paper
- For uniform-sized cookies use an ice cream scooper
- Always preheat the oven first to 375 degrees
- Bake on the middle rack
- Fold in any additions at the end
Pin for Later
Our Favorite Anytime Cookies!
Whether it's a holiday, birthday, or after school treats, these cookies are perfect at any time.
These old fashioned soft cookies are perfect with coffee, tea, milk, or hot cocoa.
I am sure they will also be a great addition to your cookie jar recipes.
Yield: 24
Old Fashioned Buttermilk Soft Cookies
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 22 Min
This is a versatile drop cookie dough made with buttermilk. Old fashioned soft sugar cookies and with many additions can be a brand new flavor every time you make them.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- Additions for the batter or on top of Frosting Ideas:
- chopped nuts any kind
- white, peanut butter, mint or chocolate chips
- chopped candy bars of choice IE peanut butter cups
- leftover Halloween candy
- funfetti in the batter
- raisins and 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- craisins (with nuts and orange zest)
- dried fruits
- blueberries
- chopped apples (also add cinnamon and nuts)
- another flavored extract added in the batter or frosting: lemon. orange, maple, anise,
- zest of orange or lemon 1 tablespoon in combination with extracts
- pumpkin seeds and cinnamon
- spread cooled cookies with jam and top with coconut
- chocolate frosting instead of vanilla with mini chocolate chips
- Frosting Recipe:
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3-1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup water or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Note: (recipe can be doubled)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla (or another extract flavor you prefer).
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
- Fold in additional ingredients (IE chocolate chips etc.)
- Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets.
- Bake until edges are lightly browned 10-12 minutes.
- I set mine on wax paper to get them ready to frost.
- Just cool a few minutes before frosting.
- For the frosting, combine butter, powdered sugar, water, and vanilla; beat until smooth.
- Spread over cookies decorate with the holiday-themed sprinkles.
Calories
268.32Fat (grams)
12.47Sat. Fat (grams)
6.85Carbs (grams)
39.33Fiber (grams)
2.41Net carbs
36.92Sugar (grams)
30.27Protein (grams)
3.05Sodium (milligrams)
169.38Cholesterol (grams)
22.80Pin for later
More Cookies Recipe We Love
Best Cowboy Cookies
Peanut Butter Cookie
Best Snickerdoodles
Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies