Description
This classic Danish Butter Cookies recipe yields crisp, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth cookies perfect for any occasion. Made with simple ingredients like unsalted butter, sugar, and vanilla, these cookies are piped into delicate shapes and baked to a light golden perfection, then sprinkled with sugar for an extra sweet crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Topping
- Granulated sugar (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent the cookies from sticking during baking.
- Prepare the Dough: In a mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy and well combined, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the salt, vanilla extract, and egg, and beat again until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the all-purpose flour until the dough is mostly combined. Use a rubber spatula to give a final few stirs to fully incorporate the flour; expect the dough to be thick.
- Pipe the Cookies: Transfer the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large open star tip. Pipe the dough into 2-inch circles spaced evenly on the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle a little granulated sugar on top of each cookie for extra sweetness and crunch.
- Bake: Bake the cookies one sheet at a time in the preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes, or until they turn a light golden brown color around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring to a serving plate or storage container.
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
- Using a piping bag with a star tip creates the classic ridged shape typical of Danish butter cookies.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- You can decorate with colored sugar or drizzle melted chocolate for variation.
- Make sure not to overbake; cookies should remain slightly soft in the center as they harden upon cooling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-17 minutes per batch
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Danish
Keywords: Danish butter cookies, classic butter cookies, homemade cookies, buttery cookies, vanilla cookies, Christmas cookies
