Vanilla Melt Away Cookies (2024)

Bless This Mess Recipes Desserts Cookies

By Melissa

5 from 6 votes

on Dec 02, 2020, Updated Jun 07, 2024

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Vanilla Melt Away Cookies are a simple cookie with the most amazing texture thanks to some powdered sugar, butter, and a secret ingredient.

Vanilla Melt Away Cookies (2)

Melt Away Cookies are a cross between a Mexican wedding cake cookie and a shortbread. Corn starch is the secret ingredient that makes these cookies soft and give them an incredible fine crumb that just melts in your mouth.

These are perfect on a cookie plate or dessert bar at Christmas next to some extra buttery spritz cookies, sugar cookies, soft gingerbread cookies, and peanut butter cookies.

Table of Contents

  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Recipe Ingredients
  • How to Make Vanilla Melt Away Cookies
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • More Cookie Recipes to Consider
  • Vanilla Melt Away Cookies Recipe
Vanilla Melt Away Cookies (3)

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • The ingredients are simple and you likely have everything on-hand.
  • The recipe is super easy and great for kids to make or help with.
  • You can change up the flavoring to suit your taste or the season.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Powdered sugar
  • Butter
  • Vanilla extract: Or whatever flavoring you would like.
  • All-purpose flour
  • Cornstarch: The secret ingredient to making melt away cookies.
  • Milk: This is just for the glaze.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Vanilla Melt Away Cookies

Vanilla Melt Away Cookies (4)

Step #1. In a large bowl, beat the sugar and butter until it’s light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and combine.

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Step #2. Add the flour and cornstarch and mix on low speed until well combined. Cover the cookie dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

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Step #3. Form the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes.

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Step #4. Make the glaze and spread it on the cooled cookies.

Recipe FAQs

What are melt away cookies?

Melt away cookies are a soft, lightly sweet shortbread cookie that seem to melt away in your mouth. The unique texture comes from a combination of powdered sugar, corn starch, and butter.

Can I change the flavor of these cookies?

Yes! You can change up the flavor by adding additional extracts to the dough or icing like almond, lemon, lime, or orange. This is a great way to change up these cookies.

How can I add a little flare to melt away cookies?

You can add food coloring to the dough and/or the icing. It’s also easy to add some sprinkles, crushed candy canes, and sprinkling sugars on top of the icing.

Can I freeze these cookies?

Yes! These store well in an air-tight container and they freeze well.

Vanilla Melt Away Cookies (8)

Expert Tips

  • Don’t skip chilling this dough – it will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent spreading when baking.
  • To get uniform cookies, use a cookie scoop or a food scale to measure out the dough before forming into balls.
  • Watch your baking time and in order to avoid overbaking these melt away cookies. The edges of the cookies should be lightly golden brown.
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More Cookie Recipes to Consider

Cookies

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Dessert Recipes

Fruit Pizza Sugar Cookies

Cookies

Easy Chocolate Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!

Vanilla Melt Away Cookies (14)

5 from 6 votes

Vanilla Melt Away Cookies

By: Melissa Griffiths

Simple Vanilla Melt Away Cookies have the most amazing texture and are made with powdered sugar, butter, and a secret ingredient – corn starch!

Prep: 30 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 24 cookies

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Ingredients

For the Cookies

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch

For the Glaze/Icing

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 – 2 tablespoon milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper.

  • Combine the sugar and butter in a large bowl and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and combine. Add the flour and cornstarch and mix on low speed until well combined.

  • Cover the cookie dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

  • Shape the dough into round 1-inch balls and place a few inches apart on the cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for one minute and then remove and let them cool on a wire rack.

  • For the glaze, combine the powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract and enough milk for desired glazing consistency in a small bowl. Drizzle or spread the glaze over cooled cookies.

  • Enjoy and store any extras in an airtight container.

Notes

  • The flavoring in these cookies is quite flexible – lemon is especially good in the dough and icing in summertime but you could also use almond, lime or orange.
  • You can dress up these cookies by sprinkling some coarse sugar, crushed peppermints, or sprinkles on top of the icing.
  • Store cookies in an air-tight container on the counter for three to five days.
  • These cookies freeze well in an airtight container for up to three to six months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 24 cookies, Calories: 150kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 23mg, Sodium: 69mg, Potassium: 11mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 267IU, Calcium: 4mg, Iron: 0.3mg

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Vanilla Melt Away Cookies (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you forgot vanilla in cookies? ›

Right away we noticed the baked cookies looked a bit different: the vanilla-less cookies were a little thicker and spread less, while the ones with vanilla flattened out more.

Is it okay to not put vanilla extract in cookies? ›

If you don't have any on hand, you can almost always omit the vanilla without impacting the final texture of your baked goods; although the rich flavor extract—or any form of vanilla—brings will certainly be altered. Just remember one thing: flavor comes first.

What does vanilla extract do to cookies? ›

Vanilla extract and how important is it for the baking process. The primary purpose of vanilla extract is to add flavour to baked goods. Lacking it, baked goods tend to have a bland and boring taste. Vanilla extract can also contribute moisture to create a soft and fluffy texture.

What can I use instead of vanilla extract in chocolate chip cookies? ›

8 substitutes for vanilla extract
  1. Vanilla paste. Vanilla paste — also called vanilla bean paste — is a mix of vanilla extract, vanilla beans, and sugar. ...
  2. Vanilla powder. ...
  3. Vanilla sugar. ...
  4. Almond extract. ...
  5. Maple syrup. ...
  6. Honey. ...
  7. Bourbon, brandy, rum, or vanilla liqueur. ...
  8. Vanilla flavored plant-based milk.
Nov 12, 2021

What happens if I run out of vanilla extract while baking? ›

If you are preparing a recipe that requires vanilla extract and you find that you've run out of vanilla in all its forms, some bakers use an equal measure of pure maple syrup in its place. Avoid imitation maple syrup, which is mostly just corn syrup.

Will too much vanilla ruin cookies? ›

When you have too much vanilla in a recipe where you want other flavors to come through, it can ruin the balance. However, using too little vanilla is an issue, too. You might get very little vanilla flavor in your baked goods or you might not be able to taste it at all.

What are the rules for vanilla extract? ›

In vanilla extract the content of ethyl alcohol is not less than 35 percent by volume and the content of vanilla constituent, as defined in § 169.3(c), is not less than one unit per gallon.

How much vanilla extract to use? ›

The amount of vanilla extract that can be used in a recipe depends on the recipe and personal taste preference. However, as a general guideline, most recipes call for between 1 and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract per batch.

Is vanilla extract or paste better for cookies? ›

While vanilla extract works in almost every recipe, it's most ideal for cakes, brownies and cookies.

What is the purpose of eggs in cookies? ›

To create cookies, you typically use whole eggs and their proteins for flavor, leavening, structure, and color. Eggs promote puffiness and spreading in cookies, while also holding the cookie together during baking.

Why add vanilla extract at the end? ›

A: Vanilla extract is made largely of alcohol which, when boiled, will burn off taking with it much of the vanilla flavor. That's why it is recommended to stir the vanilla in at the end, after the pudding has been taken off the heat, to preserve the vanilla flavor.

Do cookies taste good without vanilla extract? ›

Vanilla extract is generally used to enhance the flavor of a recipe, typically a dessert such as a cookie, cake, custard, etc. However, since it is used to add flavor complexities to a dessert, it is not essential to the chemistry of baking.

How much alcohol is in 1 tsp of vanilla extract? ›

The amount of alcohol in pure vanilla extract varies by brand. Some contain as much as 35% alcohol by volume (ABV), which is equivalent to 70-proof vodka. However, a teaspoon of that vanilla extract has very little alcohol, somewhere closer to 1%.

What to do if you forgot to add vanilla extract? ›

you can use maple syrup. if you're going for that vanillay taste, you can use almond extract, but I would use a lesser quantity. than what the recipe calls for.

What does vanilla extract taste like by itself? ›

Vanilla is a fairly strong flavor, so it can be a bit overwhelming when concentrated. But you're mostly tasting the alcohol. You can make your own extract by soaking vanilla in vodka, in case that gives you an idea. That alcohol is vastly diluted in the recipes you normally use vanilla in.

What does vanilla extract do to your body? ›

Vanilla extract offers many health benefits. Vanillin is known to have both antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as being neuroprotective, antifungal, antibacterial, boost antibiotics, and helpful for wound healing.

Can pure vanilla cookie see? ›

So basically, he's blind. Not much. He can still see and read.

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