Could someone please tell me if I should be using salted or unsalted butter for my cookies? I LOVE Karen's Cookie recipe and it calls for just "butter" but I've had friends convince me to use unsalted because this way you can control the amount of salt in the recipe. Well tonight I only had regular butter and I can definitely taste a difference. So I'd love to know what everyone else uses for their cookies.

I always use unsalted. I can taste a difference, plus I am from the school that says unsalted butter is somewhat "fresher" because salt is a preservative, therby giving salted butter a longer shelf life.

This topic has been discussed before: expect a lot of differing opinions!

I am so glad you asked this question. It is something I have always wanted to know. I didn't know if there was a reason other than taste for using unsalted butter. I look forward to reading the replies.

I have always used unsalted butter in my cookies, but I also cut the amount of butter in half and make up the other half in crisco. They come out nice and soft!

I use both but if I use salted butter (because it's cheaper here) than I just don't add salt to the recipe.
HTH

I was watching Gale Gand(a pastry chef) on Food Network one day, and she said that you should always use unsalted butter in cakes/cookies/pastries.... because that way you can control the amount of salt better, and also if you use salted butter, you will have more butter than the recipe calls for.

I always use unsalted butter. I like having the control of how salty something tastes.

I love the idea of splitting half butter/half crisco. I'm going to try that next time I make a batch. Thanks!