Name: Vanilla Melt Away Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 24 cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 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; 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons butter (softened); 1 - 2 tablespoon milk; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Melt Away Cookies

Easy vanilla Melt Away Cookies made with powdered sugar, butter, and a secret ingredient - corn starch! You'll love the amazing texture is!

Prep30 min

Total40 min

Serves24 cookies

Published 27 Feb 2014

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

15 baked melt away cookies with icing on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

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 areperfect on a cookie plateor dessert bar at Christmas next to someextra buttery spritz cookies,sugar cookies,soft gingerbread cookies, andpeanut butter cookies.

A pile of baked and iced melt away cookies on a cream-colored plate with a glass of milk in the background.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Theingredients are simpleand you likely have everything on-hand.
The recipe issuper easyand great for kids to make or help with.
You canchange up the flavoringto suit your tasteor 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

Mixing bowl in the process of making melt away cookie dough.

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.

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

Melt away cookie dough balls on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper ready to bake.

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

Baked melt away cookies on a black wire cooling rack being iced with the bowl of icing in the background.

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.

A stack of four baked and iced melt away cookies on a white plate.

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 timeand in order to avoid overbaking these melt away cookies. The edges of the cookies should be lightly golden brown.

A baked and iced melt away cookie leaning against a glass of milk.

More Cookie Recipes to Consider

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Vanilla Melt Away Cookies

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

Ingredients

For the Cookies

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

Calories150

Carbohydrates17

Cholesterol23

Fat9

Fiber0.2

Protein1

Saturated fat5

Sodium69

Sugar10