Description
Delightfully buttery and tender Clothespin Cookies feature a soft, sweet dough baked to golden perfection and sandwiched with a creamy vanilla buttercream filling. These nostalgic cookies, named after their classic shape or the way dough strips wrap around clothespins, make a perfect treat for any occasion. With a crisp edge and soft center, paired with luscious filling, these cookies offer a charming homemade dessert experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a baking sheet by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth texture for the dough.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture until fully combined, creating a consistent and aromatic base for the cookies.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt into the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a smooth, cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Shape Dough: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet. Alternatively, roll the dough thin and cut into strips for wrapping around clothespins, reflecting the traditional cookie shape.
- Form Cookies: Using your fingers or a small tool, gently press each dough ball into an oval shape to mimic the classic clothespin appearance.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges turn a delicate golden brown, signaling they are perfectly baked.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack to prepare for filling.
- Prepare Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat together the powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, milk, and a pinch of salt until the filling is smooth, creamy, and spreadable.
- Assemble Cookies: Once cooled, spread the cream filling onto the bottom side of one cookie and sandwich with another, pressing gently to adhere without breaking the cookies.
- Serve: Repeat the filling and sandwiching process with the remaining cookies. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
Notes
- For a firmer filling, chill the buttercream before assembling the cookies.
- To create the traditional clothespin look, use wooden clothespins to shape dough strips before baking, then remove the pins carefully.
- Store assembled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Make sure cookies are completely cool before adding filling to prevent melting or sogginess.
- This recipe yields about 24 cookies, perfect for sharing or gifting.
