Best 9 Classic Icebox Butter Cookies Recipes

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Classic icebox butter cookies, also known as refrigerator cookies, are a nostalgic treat that has been passed down through generations. With their simple yet flavorful ingredients, these cookies offer a delightful balance of buttery richness and sweet satisfaction. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this beginner-friendly recipe will guide you step-by-step in creating these timeless cookies that are perfect for any occasion.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

CLASSIC ICEBOX BUTTER COOKIES



Classic Icebox Butter Cookies image

This classic recipe begins with our Basic Butter Cookie Dough and ends with a dusting of sugar.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Time 3h

Yield Makes about 72

Number Of Ingredients 1

Basic Butter Cookie Dough

Steps:

  • Divide dough in half; form into two 2-inch square logs, each approximately 5 1/2 inches long. Wrap logs in waxed paper; refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice dough crosswise, 3/16 inch thick; carefully transfer slices to baking sheets.
  • If decorating, brush with egg wash, then sprinkle with sugar or sprinkles. Bake until edges are firm (not brown), 10 to 15 minutes. Cool 1 to 2 minutes on baking sheets; cool completely on a rack.

OLD FASHIONED ICE BOX COOKIE RECIPE RECIPE - (3.8/5)



Old Fashioned Ice Box Cookie Recipe Recipe - (3.8/5) image

Provided by HotDishHomemaker

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Lard (I use Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil)
1 Cup Butter
3 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1 Teaspoon Cloves
1 Teaspoon Salt
6 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
2-3 Tablespoons Hot Water
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts

Steps:

  • 1. Cream together the Butter, Oil and Sugars in a very large bowl 2. Beat in the Eggs 3. Stir in the Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves and Salt 5. Add the Flour 1 Cup at a time, and stir well 6. Add the Hot Water to moisten the batter just a bit 7. Now stir in the Walnuts 8. Roll and shape dough into desired length (I usually go with 2 1/2 inches wide by 12 inch long rolls, you should get about 4 rolls) then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. You can keep the dough in the refrigerator for several days if you want to make the dough ahead of time. 9. When ready to bake, Preheat oven to 375 degrees, slice the dough into 1/2 inch slices, then place on an nongreased cookie sheet 10. Bake the cookies until the edges are golden brown, about 15 minutes 11. Cool on brown paper (I use a cookie cooling rack) ~makes about 80 cookies Note: any unused dough or cookie slices should be kept in the refrigerator until they go directly in the oven. The cold dough is easier to slice and helps the cookie retain it's shape. For you you youngsters out there, "Icebox" is an old term referring to an old style refrigerator of sorts. Before homes had electricity they would have an Icebox, usually made of wood that had blocks of ice in it, to keep food items cold. Once the refrigerator was developed, some people still called their refrigerator "the Ice box". So the recipe name "Old Fashioned Ice Box Cookies" refers to the fact that you refrigerate the cookie dough before baking and since this is a very old recipe, they still referred to the fridge as an Ice Box.

ICEBOX COOKIES



Icebox Cookies image

This cookie recipe from my 91-year-old grandmother was my grandfather's favorite. She still makes them and sends us home with the dough so that we can make more whenever we want, I love to make a fresh batch when company drops in. -Chris Paulsen, Glendale, Arizona

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 30m

Yield about 7 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Steps:

  • In a bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts if desire. , On a lightly floured surface, shape the dough into three 10-in. x 1-in. rolls. Tightly wrap each roll in waxed paper. Freeze for at least 12 hours. , Cut into 3/8-in. slices and place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 62 calories, Fat 2g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 11mg cholesterol, Sodium 69mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

TENNESSEE ICEBOX COOKIES



Tennessee Icebox Cookies image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     dessert

Time 2h20m

Yield about 80 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
4 ounces (about 1 cup) coarsely chopped slivered almonds
3 or 4 cookie sheets or jelly roll pans lined with parchment or foil (you will need to cool and reuse them)

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir will to mix. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together on medium speed until well mixed, about 1 minute, then beat in the vanilla. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating smooth after each addition. Scrape the bowl and beater well and beat in the flour mixture followed immediately by the almonds.
  • Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and shape and squeeze it into two rough cylinders, each about 10 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Roll a piece of parchment or waxed paper around each piece of dough and tighten by pressing it in with the side of a cookie sheet or a piece of stiff cardboard. Chill the dough until firm. Or, at this stage, it can be double-wrapped in plastic, frozen, and kept for up to several weeks.
  • When you are ready to bake the cookies, set the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Slice the cookies 1/4-inch thick, rotating the roll of dough often as you slice so it doesn't become squashed from the weight of the knife. Arrange the cookies on the prepared pans about 1-inch apart in all directions and bake them for about 12 to 15 minutes, until they have puffed somewhat and have become dull and are firm to the touch. Slide the papers from the pans onto racks. After the cookies have cooled, store them between sheets of parchment or waxed paper in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting cover.

GRANDMA'S ICE BOX COOKIES



Grandma's Ice Box Cookies image

A family favorite that Grandma always includes in her cookie tins at Christmas. When melting the chocolate, adding in a few tablespoons of creamy peanut butter (or more, depending on your taste) makes the cookies easier to slice after freezing without really flavoring the chocolate. Easy to keep a frozen log in the freezer to bake in a hurry.

Provided by Jvangess

Categories     Dessert

Time 2h8m

Yield 30 40 cookies.

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 well beaten eggs
1 1/2 cups shortening
12 ounces chocolate chips

Steps:

  • Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together and set aside.
  • Cream together shortening and sugars, add eggs.
  • Mix flour and shortening mixture together.
  • Divide dough in half, place each half on a sheet of wax paper.
  • Shape dough into logs along length of wax paper. Freeze for 30 minutes.
  • Melt chocolate chips in double boiler (Grandma uses semi-sweet or mint flavored for a surprise, leaving out the peanut butter in that case).
  • Take one dough log out at a time and roll between 2 sheets of wax paper until it reaches across the paper, a little more than a 1/4" thick.
  • Spread half of chocolate on dough. Roll up, like a jelly roll. Return to freezer. Repeat with other log.
  • Allow dough to freeze for at least 30 minutes.
  • When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice cookies to desired thickness.
  • Bake on greased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 274.3, Fat 14.3, SaturatedFat 4.8, Cholesterol 18.6, Sodium 172.3, Carbohydrate 35.5, Fiber 1.2, Sugar 20, Protein 3

EASY ICE BOX STRIPED COOKIES



Easy Ice Box Striped Cookies image

Do-ahead cookies? Called icebox cookies or refrigerator cookies, they're super easy. All you do is make the dough, tuck it in the fridge, then slice and bake it later.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Dessert

Time 3h15m

Yield 66

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Food color (any color)

Steps:

  • In large bowl, beat sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, salt and baking soda. Divide dough in half. Stir 1/2 teaspoon food color into 1 half, or stir 1/2 teaspoon of different food colors into each half. Cover both halves and refrigerate 1 hour.
  • On very lightly floured surface, shape each halfof dough into 2 strips, each about 9x2 1/2 inches. Layer strips, alternating colors; press together. Wrap and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.
  • Heat oven to 400°F. Cut dough into 1/8-inch slices. On ungreased cookie sheet, place slices about 1 inch apart. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or just until edges are golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to coolingrack; cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 60, Carbohydrate 7 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 0 g, Protein 0 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 Cookie, Sodium 65 mg, Sugar 3 g, TransFat 0 g

ICEBOX COOKIES II



Icebox Cookies II image

An easy icebox cookie recipe of my mothers. This recipe is credited to a Mrs. E.S. Cryan of Oakland, CA.

Provided by BAKLEEMAN

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Refrigerator Cookie Recipes

Yield 30

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 ⅛ cups shortening
1 cup white sugar
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans

Steps:

  • Cream shortening with sugars. Mix in beaten eggs. Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix into creamed mixture. Stir in nuts and vanilla.
  • Make rolls about 2 inches in diameter. Refrigerate overnight.
  • Slice about 3/8 inch thick, and place on greased cookie sheets.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 292.6 calories, Carbohydrate 30.8 g, Cholesterol 12.4 mg, Fat 17.9 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 202.3 mg, Sugar 14.1 g

BUTTERSCOTCH ICEBOX COOKIES



Butterscotch Icebox Cookies image

Great dark brown sugar icebox cookies my southern Grandma used to make.

Provided by Pam Uribarri

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Refrigerator Cookie Recipes

Yield 18

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup butter
2 cups packed dark brown sugar
2 eggs
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

Steps:

  • Cream butter, add sugar and cream well. Beat in eggs, then add sifted dry ingredients, vanilla and nuts.
  • Shape into rolls, wrap in wax paper and freeze or put in refrigerator until firm.
  • Slice and place about an inch apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake about 12 minutes at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • When done, remove from pan at once with a spatula. Store in a covered container and they will remain crisp.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 322.3 calories, Carbohydrate 43.4 g, Cholesterol 47.8 mg, Fat 15.4 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 3.9 g, SaturatedFat 7.1 g, Sodium 222.3 mg, Sugar 24.1 g

NICKEY'S ICEBOX BUTTER COOKIES



Nickey's Icebox Butter Cookies image

These are tasty little cookies :D Please note that the time does not include refrigeration time and may be a little off.

Provided by marisk

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h20m

Yield 48-54 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
5 1/4 cups flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 -3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract (optional)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, chopped fine
colored crystal sugar, to decorate or candy sprinkles

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream butter and both sugars.
  • Beat in egg and extracts.
  • Add dry ingredients; mix well.
  • Fold in nuts and shredded coconut. [Nuts - do not mince but if not chopped small enough may cause dough not to hold together completely.].
  • Shape dough into four short rolls or 2 longer rolls -- about 3 inches across. Dough will be crumbly looking, not to worry, it will all come together when you form the rolls.
  • Roll in colored sugar, wrap in wax paper, then chill overnight (at least 4 hours).
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Slice dough in 1/4 inch thick pieces (thickness of slices will affect how many cookies you get.) As soon as you put the first roll in the oven, take out the next roll and slice it (gives it time to come closer to room temperature and bake faster.).
  • Bake in 350 degrees F (preheated) oven for about 10-12 minutes. The first batch will take 5-10 minutes longer straight from the refrigerator.
  • NOTE: If you forget to roll in sugar before freezing, it can also be done just before cutting or even after baking (sprinkle it on top of the cookies.) I've even topped these with candy sprinkles -- colorful :).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 151.3, Fat 9.3, SaturatedFat 5.4, Cholesterol 24.7, Sodium 66.9, Carbohydrate 15.4, Fiber 0.6, Sugar 4.8, Protein 1.8

Tips:

  • Use high-quality butter: The butter is the star of these cookies, so it's important to use a good one. Look for a butter that is unsalted and has a high fat content (82% or higher).
  • Chill the dough: Chilling the dough before baking helps to prevent the cookies from spreading too much. If you're short on time, you can chill the dough for 30 minutes, but for best results, chill it for at least an hour.
  • Use a cookie press: A cookie press makes it easy to shape the cookies and ensures that they are all uniform in size. If you don't have a cookie press, you can shape the cookies by hand, but be sure to roll them out to an even thickness.
  • Bake the cookies until they are just set: The cookies should be slightly golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center. If you overbake them, they will be dry and crumbly.

Conclusion:

Classic icebox butter cookies are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create these buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies that are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you're looking for a sweet treat, give these classic icebox butter cookies a try. You won't be disappointed!

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