Refreshing Iced Buttermilk Cookies

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Some of the best, most flavorful cookies I've ever had are made with buttermilk.  I remember first trying these Refreshing Iced Buttermilk Cookies at an Amish bakery in Nappannee, Indiana years and years and years ago.    Years later, I picked up a batch of buttermilk cookies at an Amish bakery in Daviess County, Indiana and the flavor was like I remembered them the first time: soft and sweet, but not overpoweringly so.  Almost a perfect cookie.  

When I first encountered buttermilk cookies, I was on assignment for an old magazine called Home & Away, it was published by the American Automobile Association. I was assigned to write a story about northern Indiana’s Amish country. And the fact that I still remember those cookies all these years later means they must’ve been really good. I'm pretty sure I bought the first batch of buttermilk cookies at the old Amish Acres (now called The Barns at Nappanee) in Nappanee.
The Amish use buttermilk in many ways. you can buy cultured buttermilk in the store, but many Amish cooks still use the old-fashioned leftover liquid behind after turning butter. That would be their buttermilk, and the flavor left behind is amazing. Buttermilk has very specific properties for baking.
 Still, the flavor is what carries the day.. Inventive Amish cooks have found ways to leverage that flavor, using buttermilk to make fried chicken, and breads, rolls, pancakes, and on and on.
These buttermilk cookies, are frosted and the cookie part has a wonderful flavor and you won’t regret making these. I mean, anyone can make a chocolate chip cookie, but a buttermilk cookie? Give it a try!

What makes the buttermilk cookies so appealing are the basic ingredients. As long as you have buttermilk (or you can make your own decent substitute with vinegar and regular milk ) you're good to go.

I do think the eggs make a difference when it comes to quality. Bright yolks signify freshness, if you can get your hands on farm fresh eggs the flavor will be enhanced.

And you'll love the frosting on these!

The cookies may not win any awards for color and beauty, but they are delicious! Bake the cookies on the top rack in the oven just until the edges are golden brown. The tops will still look like, but they'll be done, so remove from oven just when the edges get golden.

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• 🍪 Refreshing Iced Buttermilk Cookies
• 📋 Instructions
• 🥛 More Amish Recipes With Buttermilk
• 🖨️ Full Recipe

🍪 Refreshing Iced Buttermilk Cookies

• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vkanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup buttermilk

Frosting

• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
• ¼ cup milk or buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

📋 Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in egg and vanilla.
3. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk and mix well.
4. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls two inches. apart onto greased baking sheets.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
6. Remove to wire racks to cool.
7. For the frosting, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, milk or buttermilk and vanilla in a mixing bowl; beat until smooth.
8. Frost the cookies;
9. Bake these cookie on the top rack of your oven just till the edges are golden brown.
10. They will still be a bit light in color on top but they are definitely done.

🥛 More Amish Recipes With Buttermilk

Amish Buttermilk Pie - Buttermilk pie is as awesome as buttermilk cookies!

Buttermilk Biscuits - Delicious!

Buttermilk Fried Chicken - Perfect!

Buttermilk Blueberry Lemon Muffins - Wow!

🖨️ Full Recipe