Description
Buttery Danish classic butter cookies melt in your mouth with delicate, crisp edges and rich, golden flavor. Sweet simplicity shines through each perfectly piped, delightfully crumbly treat that connects generations of baking joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2/3 cup (126g) granulated sugar
Binding Ingredients:
- 3 large egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) milk
Flavor and Finishing Ingredients:
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla or almond extract
- 10 ounces (283 grams) Ghirardelli Chocolate Wafers (optional)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange a silicone baking mat or parchment paper on a large cookie sheet to ensure easy release and minimal cleanup.
- Using a stand or hand mixer, cream unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes. Incorporate egg yolks individually, then add vanilla or almond extract, mixing until fully blended.
- Gradually fold in all-purpose flour and salt at low speed until dough begins to form. Pour in milk and continue mixing until the dough becomes smooth and firm yet malleable.
- Equip a large piping bag with an Ateco 825 tip. Transfer approximately 1 cup of dough into a separate piping bag, pressing it firmly to the bottom. Insert this filled bag into the tip-fitted bag.
- Pipe elegant swirls onto the prepared baking sheet, each about 1 ½ inches wide, maintaining a 2-inch spacing between cookies to allow for expansion during baking.
- Bake single trays on room-temperature sheets for 9-11 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- For chocolate decoration, melt Ghirardelli Chocolate Wafers in a microwave-safe bowl at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds to prevent burning. Once cooled, dip cookies halfway into melted chocolate, gently tapping off excess. Place on a lined baking sheet and garnish with sprinkles if desired.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth, creamy mixing that prevents lumpy dough.
- Use a kitchen scale for precise flour measurements to maintain consistent cookie texture and prevent dryness.
- Pipe cookies uniformly by practicing steady hand pressure and maintaining consistent swirl size for professional-looking results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg