Hiđź‘‹ I’m MARILYN, a 34-year-old from the United Kingdom. Cooking is my passion, and I love sharing delicious, easy-to-follow recipes. Join me on marilynrecipes.com to explore a world of culinary delights, from comforting classics to innovative creations. Let’s make cooking fun and enjoyable for everyone! Cooking is about more than just food it’s about sharing stories and making memories.
Spring has always been my favorite season in the kitchen. I remember one bright Saturday morning, my kitchen filled with sunlight, and the scent of vanilla and butter wafting through the air. I wanted to bake something that felt like spring itself light, sweet, and cheerful. That’s how I first created Soft Butter Cookies with Spring Icing. Over the years, I’ve baked them countless times, experimenting with textures and colors, always aiming for that perfect melt-in-your-mouth softness topped with a playful, colorful icing that celebrates the season.
These cookies aren’t just a dessert they’re little hugs on a plate, perfect for sharing with friends, family, or even enjoying quietly with a cup of tea while the sun streams through your kitchen window. I love how baking these cookies makes ordinary days feel festive and special.
Why I Love Making This Recipe
Baking, for me, is an emotional experience. Making Soft Butter Cookies with Spring Icing reminds me of my childhood afternoons spent in my grandmother’s kitchen. I loved rolling dough, cutting shapes, and sneaking a nibble when no one was looking. What I love most about this recipe is its simplicity and the joy it brings.
The dough is buttery, soft, and tender, perfect for creating little cookies that practically melt on your tongue. The spring icing is where you can really get creative. I love using pastel colors like soft pink, lavender, mint green, and sunshine yellow. It feels like painting with flavors and the best part is, it makes every batch feel unique and festive.
Whenever I serve these cookies at home, they instantly lift spirits. They’re perfect for spring gatherings, birthday parties, or just a cozy afternoon in the kitchen with someone you love. Seeing others smile while holding a brightly iced cookie is the greatest reward.
Ingredients & Little Kitchen Secrets
Here’s everything you need to make these spring-inspired treats, along with a few little secrets I’ve learned along the way:
For the Cookies:
- 250g unsalted butter, softened (room temperature is key for soft cookies)
- 150g caster sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 300g plain flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ÂĽ tsp salt
For the Spring Icing:
- 200g icing sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk (adjust for desired consistency)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Food coloring (pastels: pink, yellow, green, lavender)
Little Kitchen Secrets:
- Soft Butter Matters: Don’t melt the butter softened butter creates the perfect soft, tender cookie.
- Chill the Dough Briefly: If your dough feels sticky, chill it for 20–30 minutes it makes cutting shapes easier.
- Icing Consistency: Start with 2 tablespoons of milk, add more slowly until the icing spreads easily but doesn’t run off the cookies.
- Color Fun: Separate the icing into small bowls and add a drop or two of different colors for that playful spring vibe.
How I Make It, Step by Step
- Preheat the Oven: Set it to 180°C (350°F) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with caster sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Roll and Cut: Lightly flour your surface and roll the dough to about ½ cm thick. Use cookie cutters in fun spring shapes flowers, butterflies, or eggs!
- Bake: Place the cookies on the baking sheets and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool completely before icing.
- Prepare Icing: In a bowl, mix icing sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Divide into small bowls and add your desired colors.
- Decorate: Using a spoon or piping bag, spread or pipe the icing onto cooled cookies. Let them set for about 20 minutes.
How I Serve It at Home
I love serving Soft Butter Cookies with Spring Icing on a colorful plate with a fresh bouquet of flowers in the center. They’re perfect with a cup of tea or a cold glass of milk. Sometimes, I like to sprinkle a few edible glitter flakes or pastel sprinkles on top to make them extra festive. I also love placing them in small gift boxes when visiting friends it’s a simple gesture that always brings smiles.
Storage, Reheating & Make-Ahead Tips
- Storage: Keep iced cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Uniced cookies freeze well. Freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag. Thaw completely before icing.
- Make-Ahead: You can make the dough a day ahead, keep it wrapped in the fridge, and bake fresh the next day.
100-Word Short Version
These Soft Butter Cookies with Spring Icing are buttery, tender, and topped with colorful, pastel icing that celebrates the joy of spring. The dough is simple to make, soft, and melts in your mouth, while the icing allows for creative, festive designs. I love rolling the dough, cutting fun shapes, and painting with icing colors it’s a joyful experience every time. Serve these cookies at home with tea or milk, or gift them to friends for a thoughtful spring treat. They store well in an airtight container and freeze beautifully, making them perfect for make-ahead celebrations.
Recipe Card Section
⏱️ Time:
Prep: 20 min | Cook: 12 min | Total: 32 min
🛒 Ingredients: <ul> <li>250g unsalted butter, softened</li> <li>150g caster sugar</li> <li>1 large egg</li> <li>1 tsp vanilla extract</li> <li>300g plain flour</li> <li>½ tsp baking powder</li> <li>¼ tsp salt</li> <li>200g icing sugar</li> <li>2–3 tbsp milk</li> <li>½ tsp vanilla extract</li> <li>Food coloring (pastels: pink, yellow, green, lavender)</li> </ul>
👩‍🍳 Instructions: <ol> <li>Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.</li> <li>Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.</li> <li>Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.</li> <li>Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.</li> <li>Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture to form dough.</li> <li>Roll dough to ½ cm thick and cut shapes.</li> <li>Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.</li> <li>Let cookies cool completely.</li> <li>Mix icing sugar, milk, and vanilla. Divide and color icing.</li> <li>Decorate cookies and let icing set for 20 minutes.</li> </ol>
đź“ť Notes:
- Chill dough if sticky for easier cutting.
- Adjust icing consistency with milk for spreading or piping.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze uniced cookies for later use.
🍽️ Nutrition (per cookie, approximate):
Calories: 180 kcal
Sugar: 12g
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 2g
Soft Butter Cookies with Spring Icing
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 32 mins
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Soft Butter Cookies with Spring Icing are tender, buttery, and topped with cheerful pastel icing. Perfect for spring gatherings, tea time, or gifting, this easy recipe brings joy and warmth to any kitchen.
Ingredients
- 250g unsalted butter, softened
- 150g caster sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 300g plain flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ÂĽ tsp salt
- 200g icing sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Food coloring (pastels: pink, yellow, green, lavender)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture to form dough.
- Roll dough to ½ cm thick and cut shapes.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Let cookies cool completely.
- Mix icing sugar, milk, and vanilla. Divide and color icing.
- Decorate cookies and let icing set for 20 minutes.
Notes
Chill dough if sticky for easier cutting. Adjust icing consistency with milk for spreading or piping. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Freeze uniced cookies for later use.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Conclusion
Baking Soft Butter Cookies with Spring Icing is one of my favorite ways to celebrate spring and share love through food. Every bite feels like a little celebration soft, buttery, and playful with pastel icing. It’s a recipe that brings friends and family together, sparks smiles, and fills your kitchen with warmth. From my heart to yours, I hope these cookies bring as much joy to your home as they’ve brought to mine over the years. Baking is about stories, memories, and love and these cookies embody all three.