Description
Delightful butter cookies from Denmark offer a melt-in-your-mouth experience with simple ingredients. Crisp edges and rich flavor make these traditional treats perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (226 g or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- Sanding sugar or sprinkles
- Melted chocolate for drizzling
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Cream butter with granulated and powdered sugars until light and fluffy, creating a silky base. Blend in egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Mixing and Chilling: Fold flour and salt into the mixture, combining gently to form a tender dough. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to enhance texture and prevent excessive spreading during baking.
- Oven Preparation: Heat oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Create elegant cookie shapes by piping rosettes with a star tip or rolling dough into small balls and pressing with a fork.
- Decorative Touches: Sprinkle sanding sugar or delicate edible decorations across cookie surfaces for visual appeal and added texture.
- Baking Process: Place cookies in preheated oven and bake 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden and centers set. Let rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize structure.
- Cooling and Finishing: Transfer cookies to wire rack and cool completely. Optional: Elevate presentation by drizzling or dipping cooled cookies in melted chocolate for a decadent final touch.
Notes
- Master Butter Temperature: Ensure butter is softened but not melted, sitting at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to guarantee smooth, even incorporation and optimal cookie texture.
- Prevent Overworking Dough: Mix flour gently and minimally to maintain cookie tenderness, stopping precisely when ingredients combine to avoid developing tough gluten strands.
- Control Baking Precision: Monitor oven temperature closely, as slight variations can dramatically impact cookie color and crispness; use an oven thermometer for guaranteed consistent results.
- Customize Decorative Options: Experiment with different piping tips, sugar coatings, or chocolate dips to transform classic butter cookies into personalized, visually stunning treats suitable for various occasions and dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 137
- Sugar: 6.25 g
- Sodium: 0.104 g
- Fat: 8.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.6 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1.2 g
- Cholesterol: 17 mg