A friend from Kentucky gave me this recipe — I’ve already made it four times this month!

Few desserts deliver pure buttery bliss quite like Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies. Soft, tender, and infused with a rich vanilla scent, these cookies practically dissolve on the tongue. This guide walks you through everything—ingredients, method, and the signature buttery glaze—so you can bake a batch that’s beautifully soft and downright irresistible. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, this recipe will help you master these classic cookies with ease.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

Butter Glaze

Instructions

1. **Preheat & Prepare
   **Warm your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
2. **Cream the Butter & Sugar
   **In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
3. **Add Eggs, Buttermilk & Vanilla
   **Mix in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the buttermilk and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
4. **Combine Dry Ingredients
   **In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. **Form the Dough
   **Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until the cookie dough comes together—avoid overmixing.
6. **Portion the Cookies
   **Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
7. **Bake
   **Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges show a hint of golden color.
8. **Make the Glaze
   **While the cookies are in the oven, combine melted butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and water. Whisk until smooth and pourable.
9. **Glaze While Warm
   **Brush the freshly baked cookies with the warm butter glaze while they’re still soft.
10. **Cool Completely
    Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to finish setting.