If you’re looking to recreate the nostalgic Chicago Public Schools lunchroom butter cookies, here’s the classic recipe and some notes so you can bring back that childhood flavor and texture:
The Official CPS Butter Cookie Recipe
From Senn High School and Chicago Public Schools (Food.com/Just A Pinch)
Yields ~36 cookies
Ingredients:
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2 cups unsalted butter (room temperature)
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1½ cups granulated sugar
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¼ tsp salt
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3½ cups all-purpose flour
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2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
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Preheat oven to 350 °F.
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Cream butter until light and fluffy.
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Add sugar and salt; beat until completely smooth.
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Gradually incorporate flour, mixing on low until dough forms.
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Stir in vanilla.
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Shape dough into balls (~1 heaping tbsp).
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Place about 9 per cookie sheet. Press the first three fingers into sugar (on a saucer) then onto the ball to flatten into a ~3″ circle roughly ¼–½″ thick.
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Bake 12–15 min until barely golden at the edges. Remove carefully, cool fully on wire racks. Reddit+15Food.com+15ABC7 Chicago+15Recipezazz.com+4Just A Pinch Recipes+4Cookie Madness+4Recipelink+2Heavenly Scents Recipes+2
Streamlined Home Version
From Recipelink and Recipe Goldmine
Yields ~18 cookies
Ingredients:
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1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
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⅔ cup sugar
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2 cups all‑purpose flour plus 2 Tbsp
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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Pinch of salt
Instructions:
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Cream butter and sugar.
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Add vanilla; gradually fold in flour.
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Shape into balls and flatten.
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Bake at 350 °F for 10–13 min until lightly golden. Cookie Madness+8Recipelink+8Recipe Goldmine+8Recipezazz.comReddit+2Reddit+2Reddit+2Just A Pinch Recipes+2
Comparison Table
| Version | Yield | Key Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Full CPS (Senn HS version) | ~36 cookies | More butter and sugar, slightly larger cookies, crisp edges. |
| Home variant (Recipelink) | ~18 cookies | More compact batch, simpler proportions, still very buttery. |
Tips & Final Thoughts
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Many people who grew up with CPS cookies say the full recipe better captures the authentic taste and texture: rich and buttery with delicate crispness Reddit+2Just A Pinch Recipes+2.
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Reddit users from Chicago reminisce often: “What a staple of my childhood … absolutely delicious!” Food.com+15Reddit+15Reddit+15.
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Ingredients are minimal—no baking powder or soda—and the texture relies on light creaming and minimal spreading. Use quality butter for best flavor. Just A Pinch Recipes+10Cookie Madness+10Food.com+10
Which version to choose?
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Go full scale (Senn CPS): If you’re craving the exact flavor and feel of school cookies—rich, large, slightly crisp on edges.
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Home baker option: Smaller batch, simpler, very close in taste and texture.
Would you like ideas on flavor variations (e.g. almond extract), packaging for gifting, or how to freeze the dough? Let me know!