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+ servings
A buttermilk cookie with thick frosting and a bite taken out of it.
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5 from 6 votes

Buttermilk Cookies with Honey Buttercream Frosting

Buttermilk Cookies with Honey Buttercream Frosting are like the top of a cupcake - soft, fluffy, and loaded with frosting. They are light, perfectly sweet, and so delicious.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Cooling Time25 minutes
Total Time52 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Southern
Keyword: buttermilk cookies, fluffy cookies, leftover buttermilk recipes
Cooking Method: Oven
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 214kcal
Author: Kari

Ingredients

Cookies

Honey Butter Frosting

Optional

  • sprinkles
  • chopped pecans

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
    ½ cup butter, 1 cup granulated sugar
  • Beat in egg and vanilla extract next.
    1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
    2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternating with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. The dough will be sticky, but it should be manageable.
    ½ cup buttermilk
  • Roll the cookie dough into balls, about a tablespoon to a tablespoon and a half in size, and place the rounded tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. (They will spread a little.)
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned.
  • Remove to wire racks to cool.

Honey Butter Frosting

  • To make the frosting, cream butter, then whip with honey. (I like to use the whisk attachment of the mixer.)
    ½ cup butter, ½ cup honey
  • Add in half of the confectioners' sugar, then when fully incorporated, add the remaining sugar and salt. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
    2 cups powdered sugar, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Let the cookies cool, then spread the thick frosting all over the cookies. If desired, sprinkle with sprinkles or chopped nuts.
    sprinkles, chopped pecans
  • Make sure the cookies are mostly cooled before frosting them, or the frosting will melt off of the cookies.
  • Serve and enjoy! See notes below for how to best store the cookies.

Notes

How to Store Your Cookies

Allow the cookies to cool completely on a cooling rack before storing them. I like to store the cookies unfrosted in an airtight container at room temperature. I store the frosting in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator.
To prepare the leftover cookies, I take the frosting out about 30 minutes to one hour before I plan on frosting the cookies to let it soften, and the cookies taste like they are fresh from the oven. You can even microwave the cookies to make them warm and soft again - for 5-10 seconds, just don't go crazy, or the frosting will melt. (Though, yum!)
You can also freeze the cookies and frosting and make them when you need them. This makes it easier to prepare Christmas cookies in large quantities. (See below for more instructions.)

How to Freeze Cookies

I like to bake a batch of cookies and frosting, then separately freeze them. I freeze the cookies in a bag and suck out all the air, then freeze the frosting in an airtight container and press a piece of plastic wrap against the top surface of the frosting. Put the lid on and freeze until they are needed. Defrost and spread the frosting on the cookies!
The base of this cookie recipe is based on this recipe from Taste of Home, though I used a different frosting to make it more like a delicious cupcake top.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookies | Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 153mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg