A Spicy Valentine.
Recently, I needed to make dessert to follow a Mexican meal. Flan seemed too heavy, and confectioners sugar-dusted wedding cookies too messy for guests dressed in black. Chocolate was off the table due to an allergy. But the idea of a cookie appealed. Small, bite-sized biscuits…
Why not make a variation on my butter cookie recipe? Of course the flavor that came right to mind was cinnamon. The concept worked perfectly. What a delight these little squares are; the small batch recipe really helps keep us from eating too many after the guests depart. And wouldn’t a plateful be perfect for your Valentine?
~ David
Cinnamon Butter Cookies
To print this recipe, please click the small printer icon below.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy using a hand-held mixer.
- Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Scrape the bowl and beat again.
- Add in the flour mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated. The dough will be soft.
- Shape the dough into a square log and wrap in wax paper. Use a dough scraper to help form nice, crisp sides and corners. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Unwrap the dough and use a sharp knife to cut dough into 1/4-inch slices.
- Place cookies 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 11 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- Makes 12-15 cookies.
© 2025 Copyright Cocoa & Lavender
Carolyne
February 8, 2025 at 7:25 am💝
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:39 amThanks!
Mad Dog
February 8, 2025 at 7:47 amHow lovely! Cinnamon was once considered to be precious and a gift fit for kings.
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:39 amCinnamon then, then saffron, now eggs. What’s next, Mad Dog?
Barb
February 8, 2025 at 8:11 amThese cookies sound perfect, easy to make and low sugar! The cinnamon flavoring would be a perfect companion for Mexican food. The intricate tablecloth and the gorgeous plate are the perfect background for the simple cookies. Well done!
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:39 amYes, I am trying to reduce the sugar I use — which is hard as I love my sweets! Thanks, Barb!
Mimi Rippee
February 8, 2025 at 10:15 amNice! And they’re so simple and pretty!
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:38 amSimple and pretty… the best! Thanks, Mimi!
angiesrecipes
February 8, 2025 at 11:40 amWe like cinnamon cookies! These look aromatic and melt-in-mouth.
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:38 amCinnamon is a favorite here, too.
Eha Carr
February 8, 2025 at 1:44 pmPriceless photography of a biscuit which would so fit in with the mug of hot black coffee in my hand . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:37 amThanks, Eha!
Pauline McNee
February 8, 2025 at 2:43 pmI wish I could eat a couple of these today David with my coffee. This recipe looks really good and you have presented them beautifully on your lovely plate.
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:37 amThanks, Pauline — we all need some sweet treats these days!
sherry
February 9, 2025 at 2:06 amI love the plate they are sitting on David. And I do love cinnamon too. These are so pretty.
sherry
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:36 amThanks, Sherry — The plate (one of a kind) is a favorite of mine, too.
Evening With A Sandwich
February 11, 2025 at 2:47 pmDavid, warm spices like cinnamon (of course, nutmeg and cloves too) are some of my favorite. I love a good cup of coffee in the afternoon and this would be a delightful pairing. Cheers to small batch as I could easily eat more than my fair share (smile).
Velva
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:36 amThanks, Velva — Small batches are my best friend, otherwise I eat way too many!
Jeff the Chef
February 12, 2025 at 7:40 amPerfection!
Cocoa & Lavender
February 12, 2025 at 8:35 amThanks, Jeff — you are very kind.
Raymund
February 13, 2025 at 2:38 amThese cinnamon butter cookies sound like the perfect little treat—simple, elegant, and just the right size for a sweet ending to a Mexican meal. I love how you adapted the recipe to fit the occasion and dietary needs, and the cinnamon flavor must add such a warm, cozy touch. Plus, a small batch is always a win for portion control (though I’m not sure I could stop at just a few!).
Cocoa & Lavender
March 27, 2025 at 5:00 pmThank you, Raymund — I think it is also nice that these aren’t sweet, so you aren’t overwhelmed with sugar after a meal.
Inger
February 13, 2025 at 2:55 pmI love this! Isn’t it fun when necessity becomes the mother of a wonderful invention!
Cocoa & Lavender
March 27, 2025 at 5:01 pmI feel like it is what we do all the time, Inger!
Christina
February 15, 2025 at 9:24 amWhat a cute recipe! Reminds me of old British recipes where the amounts are for small quantities, tiny cakes, etc. I love how you made them into squares, too! Great idea for dessert, and happy belated Valentine’s Day to you!
Cocoa & Lavender
March 27, 2025 at 5:02 pmI am really loving small batch recipes — and a lot of the time it just means cutting one in half, though not all the time. Thanks for the Valentine wishes — same to you (closer to April Fool
‘s Day!).
Valentina
February 16, 2025 at 6:48 pmI love when cinnamon is the star of a recipe. These are lovely! 🙂 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
March 27, 2025 at 5:03 pmWhen asked, “What is your favoirite spice?” I can never decide between saffron, cinnamon, and cardamom. I need to have three!
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
February 17, 2025 at 5:38 pmI love simplicity about these tasty cookies. And that they appear to contain less sugar than most recipes (well I usually go with even less of the sugar for my cookies haha). Less sugary cookies do indeed allow to appreciate the flavours like butter, spices, and so on 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
March 27, 2025 at 5:03 pmThey are definitely low in the sugar arena, Ben — which is why they are so nice after a meal.