Description
These Danish Butter Cookies are delicately crisp and buttery, melting in your mouth with each bite. Piped into beautiful shapes and sprinkled with coarse sugar, they’re perfect for holidays, gifts, or a luxurious treat with tea or coffee.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) European salted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) whole milk (plus more to soften if needed)
- 2 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (50 g) cake flour
- coarse sugar, for decorating
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Make space in the refrigerator to chill the shaped cookies.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add in sugar and salt while mixing on low, then beat on medium until light and fluffy.
- Add egg yolks, vanilla extract, and milk while mixing. Scrape down the bowl to ensure everything is incorporated evenly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose and cake flours. Add the dry mixture to the wet in two additions, mixing on low just until combined. Add more milk if the dough is too thick to pipe.
- Transfer dough to a piping bag fitted with a ½-inch open star tip. Pipe 2-inch rosettes, circles, or pretzel shapes onto prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with coarse sugar.
- Chill the piped cookies in the fridge for 20–30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) with the rack in the middle position.
- Bake cookies for 10–15 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Use European butter for a richer, more flavorful cookie.
- Chilling the cookies before baking helps retain their shape.
- For variety, add almond extract, citrus zest, or dip cookies in chocolate.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
