Chicago Public Schools Cafeteria Butter Cookies Recipe

The recipe for the world famous (or at least amongst former CPS students) cafeteria butter cookies. I've been making these for the past couple of years since I found the recipe and they are just as good as I remember.

The most important part is the butter - make sure to let it soften naturally. If you soften it in the microwave, it will make the cookie harder than it should be.

**NOTE: The video shows 4 sticks of butter because I was making a double batch. Stick to the amounts listed in the video and you'll be set.


Good luck baking!

[MrVincenzo]

I HAD THESE EVERY DAY AT LUNCH FROM 1963 TO 1967 AT CARL SCHURZ HIGH SCHOOL IN CHICAGO, AND THEY ARE STILL MY FAVORITE. I USED TO BUY EXTRA AND SLIDE THEM IN MY NOTEBOOK AND PINCH OFF PIECES DURING CLASS!!

[misspmo]

Thank you ashcorps
Guys, she explains that she was filming herself making a double batch and forgot to edit out the 4 sticks of butter as the recipe for a single batch only calls for 2 sticks.
I just made four batches of these yesterday 11/19/20. This is the ONLY recipe I use. Tastes just like they did at Poe Classical, Morgan Park and DuBois in the 80's.
Preheat oven to 350°
INGREDIENTS
2 sticks salted butter at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups and 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour (Major key when baking-with flour, measure the flour by weight. I use pillsbury unbleached all purpose flour where 1/4 cup=31 grams therefore for one batch I use 263.5 grams of flour. I started measuring flour about 2 years ago because when u scoop and then level flour, you are packing it into the cup, thus using more flour than recipe calls for. My cookies were cooking too fast, ie the flour was burning or tasting burned at edges even though they were only light brown on edges. I did some research and measuring solved my issue, so now I always measure flour by weight whenever I bake anything that calls for flour)
PROCEDURE
Mix sugar and butter till fluffy with hand mixer (3-5 min)
Mix in vanilla
Gradually mix in flour
Scoop, roll into ball, flatten onto baking sheet about one inch apart, bake for 22-28 minutes (my oven, 23 min).
NO EGGS, NO MILK. I wish i could attach photos of the cookies and the people eating them because THEY. ARE. GONE!! I barely got one myself! Ill need to make more

[nechiaalli]

YES YES N MORE YES!!! I just made this and I doubled the recipie and you are SPOT ON with this. They came out EXACTLY like the Chicago Public School's ICONIC, lunchroom butter cookies. The house was smelling so when I was baking them, I cant believe how easy they were to make. My family loves them and my sons are going crazy over them and have their own plans for them that include.everything from nutella to chocolate sauce dippers to me when making more tomorrow. These cookies were before their time even though they are in college. It's so funny how many lives these cookies have touched and the lasting impression they have made on so many people. Whats even more funny is all of us commenting in this post and those who have memories of these cookies most likely had interactions with each others or our schools at some point in time be it games, friends, relatives or what have you, seeing how these cookies were arouund only for a certain period of time. Thanks so much for this.

[Lecanvey]

About 25 years ago, there was an article in the Trib with this "alleged" recipe for the school butter cookies. I tried them several times and they were no match. The recipe has the same ingredients but different amounts. I'm going to try your recipe TODAY and cannot wait! Thanks for posting!

[ashcorps]

The notes point out that the recipe calls for 2 sticks - I happened to be making a double batch at the time. The recipe for a single batch is what's listed in the video.

Salted, unsalted - makes no difference, I've tried it both ways and they turn out great either way.

[TallStarlite]

I just made these since we're all on "locked down" and they came exactly like I remember thank so much!!

[tracer]

Words cannot describe how delicious, delectable and satisfying these cookies are. Yum, yum and ... Yum!

[ashcorps]

I've found butter "softness" to be the most important ingredient. You want it soft to the touch, but not mushy (or melting). Another note - make sure you let them fully bake (they do take a while) - if you pull them out of the oven too early they will be chewy.

[ajoann]

Omg!!! my husband and i are always talking about these cookies, we both went to school in Chicago, im so glad i found this recipe, Thanks!!!

[bcsurvivor]

I am 60 and my butter cookies in high school were 5 cents, they were evenly flatten maybe by the bottom of a glass and then on top they had a grid like pressed fork on top. I lived on the north west side.

[burres]

Butter are the most popular cookies in tbe world or is chocolate chip. Butters are the color purple family, the Alex Haley family Cookies martin lawrences momma his mommas butter biscuit cookies. Aunt Ida Mae Shiloh Church in Chicago. Made butter cookies since 1800 's. Kitchen church was filled with hundreds tall cookies can which she sold for about $1.00 a can. She enjoyed spreading cookie love all over the world.

[Genasis]

Ok, I searched high and low for this recipe. I made it exactly as listed and when I tasted them, it was like being in Dulled Elementary School in 1983! LOL...recipe is super easy to follow. Side note people, if you want them soft, put them in a ziploc bag with a piece of white bread for about 24 these things will get you in trouble....LOL, I've already made them about 5 times, just found the recipe last month....LOL

[TheJourneyofGeminiandNoble]

Oh my goosh! I grew up in Chicago and I remember paying .10 or .15 per cookie back then and these were the bomb!!! I use to make them when I was a kid and forgot the recipe, I wanted to bake them for my family. You have brought back some fond memories. I can not wait to make these again. Thanks for sharing!

[NeicynSly]

I did that am so happy it came right this time. Thank y'all for sharing y'all recipe it remind me of my childhood going to school n Chicago n getting to everyday small those fresh butter cookies n peanut butter cookies I use to wish they was free.... because I stayed broke as a matter of fact something's never change am still broke. Thanks again

[MsJai]

I missed the cookies when we moved to the suburbs when I was a child.  Now I've made these cookies so often, my son is able to enjoy them. Have lots of request but I only make them for family..  Thank you so much for the

[QUIETSTORM]

I'm telling you. The best thing about elementary school to me (IN Chicago) was the 10 cent butter cookies. OMG. Brings back so many memories. Especially for those of us who only had cookies (and cafeteria food to eat sometimes...back in the day).

[plezhurhouse]

I was told half butter and half shortening was the real recipe but they taste the same to me, except with shortening you really do get the crumbly effect of the school cookies from back then. And if your batter is too stiff two tablespoons of cold water will loosen it up. Also I add flour according to how stiff my dough is. Also you should never let your butter get too soft or over mix cookie batter. This is what ruins it and makes them come out too thin. Mrs Fields never starts hers warm.

[antoinettefoster]

I was born and raised in chicago, and the cookies was the stuff back then. but if you watch the video you will notice when they added the sugar they used a 1/4 cup and the same for the flour. I haven't made them yet. I too was looking for this recipe cause these was the thing to buy at school south shore hg.

[outsida]

Wow... You just made my day with this. I was just bugging co-workers and family members for this recipe but not one person had it. I miss these cookies.. Haven't had them in a good while.

[Changingfacez]

I love love love these cookies! I've been wanting this recipe for years! Thank you, thank you, thank you much!