These cookies are part baking adventure, part craft project, and part delicious. Oh yes, a delicious craft—we’ve finally done it. 🙂
I call these fossil cookies because you can use any type of shell to press into the dough to leave an impression. Or you can just bake the cookies without the impressions. This is my go-to butter cookie recipe. If you’ve never had a butter cookie, it tastes very similar to shortbread. And you’ll never guess what the main ingredient is.
Oh, you guessed butter? Clever you.
Fossil Cookies, makes three dozen.
3 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups (4 sticks) softened butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (also called confectioner’s sugar)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 egg
First, cream together the butter and powdered sugar. In my opinion, the best way to cream together butter and sugar by hand is to, well, use your hands. The ol’ butter fingers. 🙂
Next, stir in the egg and vanilla extract. I used clear vanilla extract just to keep my cookies looking as white as possible, but any vanilla extract will yield the same (tasting) result.
Now stir in the flour and salt until a soft dough ball forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll until the dough is about 1/4 inch (or slightly less) thick. Cut out the cookies. I used a pizza cutter and did squares. You could use circular cookie cutters if you prefer. Press the shell into the dough, leaving an indention.
Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes. After the first 10 minutes, remove the cookies and re-press the shell into the still soft dough. Return to oven to finish baking. Cool on a baking rack before serving.
I bought my shells from a craft store. No matter where you get yours from, be sure to wash them before use. Sometimes they can still have small grains of sand or other debris, and you don’t want that in your cookie batter. Enjoy! xo. Emma
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Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups 4 sticks softened butter
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar (also called confectioner’s sugar)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 egg
Instructions
- First, cream together the butter and powdered sugar. In my opinion, the best way to cream together butter and sugar by hand is to, well, use your hands. The ol’ butter fingers.
- Next, stir in the egg and vanilla extract. I used clear vanilla extract just to keep my cookies looking as white as possible, but any vanilla extract will yield the same (tasting) result.
- Now stir in the flour and salt until a soft dough ball forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll until the dough is about 1/4 inch (or slightly less) thick. Cut out the cookies. I used a pizza cutter and did squares. You could use circular cookie cutters if you prefer. Press the shell into the dough, leaving an indention.
- Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes. After the first 10 minutes, remove the cookies and re-press the shell into the still soft dough. Return to oven to finish baking. Cool on a baking rack before serving.
Notes
Credits // Author: Emma Chapman, Photography: Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with Margot of the Folk Collection.
where is the recipe! you cant make the cookies without the ingredients and the method?
It’s below the third photo in the post 🙂
Finally, a practical use for all the stuff we find on the beach!
These look so delicious – you can tell just by looking at them that they are full of butter 🙂 Love the shell imprint, clever idea.
http://www.laurelloves.com
Hey! I need to try this with my seashells from the Philippines trip. It will bee good surprise to my husband! 🙂
Awesome idea! I can’t believe I’ve never seen this before. Genius. :]
this is definately on my list of things to conquer this easter!
Such a cute idea! Do you think I could freeze this dough in rolls and do a slice ‘n bake cookie? Thanks for the recipe!
The cookies look great. I like how you painted the plywood. It really softens the background and makes it into a real texture rather than an ordinary piece of plywood.
I love this cute idea that won’t take all day long to make with my son. And he will love making these!
Hello on a beautyful saturday!
Nice way of baking.
Looks nice and make me feel at the beach………..
Enjoy.
Heidi from Denmark
http://www.mariahoffbeck.blogspot.com
This is such a cute idea, definitely want to try this :)!
http://laurenslittleblogs.blogspot.co.uk/
xx
I have also made a similar cookie for my 3 little granddaughters’ tea party. We used decorative buttons (washed well and dried) to make the impressions. The ladies all loved their fancy cookies!
Wow these are so quirky I love this idea! xx
www.krystelcouture.com ♥
So clever! Good idea for party snacks!
These are very cool!!!! I give them an official paleontologist’s seal of approval (even though I do dinosaur stuff).
oh, those would be adorable to take on a family beach trip!
Wow – you guys are incredible! Always so many cool ideas, I just love your imaginations and these fossil cookies!
Oh my gosh, so excited to make these!! Thanks for sharing! Just thought I’d also share one of my tips for butter cookies – add 1-2 tablespoons (or more for more pronounced colour and taste) of matcha powder into the flour and sift together. Matcha butter cookies are amazing and I often drizzle melted white choc on top and add chopped toasted almonds/macadamias. So good!
Whoooooa fossils on a cookie? Count me in? I would love to try this with other cool patterns too! 😀 Thanks for the idea!
http://everydayingrace.blogspot.ca/
I love the look of these!