Holiday Butter Cookies {Danish style}
Buttery. Crisp. Delicious. My Holiday Butter Cookies are inspired by the traditional Danish butter cookies you see in shiny blue tins around the holidays. Every year, I crave their warm vanilla flavour and buttery crumble, so I decided to make them at home. These homemade cookies are simplicity at its finest. Using commonly found pantry ingredients and only requiring 15 minutes to bake, these cookies are a joy to make, gift, and enjoy!
FAQs About Butter Cookies
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! You can refrigerate the dough for up to 3 days or freeze it for 1 month. Let it soften to room temperature before piping.
What if I don’t have a piping bag or a large star tip?
No worries! Roll the dough into balls, flatten slightly, and bake. I find that only an extra-large tip will work for me to pipe these cookies so I find it very calming to be able to create different shapes with my hands instead.
How do I ensure my cookies hold their shape?
I find that these cookies do not require a refrigeration step to hold their shape however, if you are worried about it, you can chill the piped dough for 15–20 minutes before baking.
Can I use salted butter?
You can, but do not add additional salt in the recipe. This will help to balance the flavour.
How long do these cookies stay fresh?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
The ingredients you will need:
- Unsalted Butter
- Granulated sugar
- Large Egg
- Vanilla Extract
- Salt (flaked salt)
- Flour (All-purpose)
Let’s make some delicious Holiday Butter Cookies
1. Cream Butter and Sugar
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (3-5 min). This step is perfect for mindful breathing—notice the transformation as the mixture becomes pale and creamy.
2. Incorporate Egg and Extracts
Add the egg, salt, and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
3. Add Flour
Gently fold in the flour until just combined. Avoid over mixing for tender cookies.
4. Pipe or Shape
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe small swirls or circles onto a lined baking sheet, or roll the dough into logs and slice for a traditional look.
5. Bake
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for ~15-17 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool before decorating.
These Danish-inspired butter cookies are a joy to make, gift, and enjoy. With a buttery richness and customisable design, they’re destined to be the stars of your holiday cookie box. So, gather your ingredients, tune into the process, and bake with love and mindfulness.
Also check out:
Maple Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Peppermint Brownie Cookies
Gingerbread Cookie Balls
Holiday Butter Cookies {Danish Style}
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter softened, room temperature
- 2/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Flaked salt
- 1 Egg (large) room temperature
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 cup Flour spooned into measuring cup and levelling off with a knife
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F (325F convection oven). Line 1-2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats (note: I find that this dough sticks better to silicone mats during piping).
- In the large bowl of a stand mixer or using an electric hand mixer, cream together softened butter with sugar. Beat for 3-5 min or until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, vanilla (extract or paste), and salt. Mix until all ingredients have been incorporated.
- Gradually add flour to your butter/egg mixture.
- Mix until all flour has been incorporated. Stop mixing.
- Add 1/2 of mixture to a piping bad fitted with an extra large star tip.
- Pipe small star/swirl shapes (1" in diameter), leaving ~1.5" between each cookie.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes or until edges of cookies are golden brown. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use the largest star piping tip you have for the easiest piping!
- If your cookies are not sticking to your parchment or if you are having trouble getting the dough out of your piping bag – time to pivot!
- You can either thin you dough with 1-2 tbsp of milk or shape your cookies by hand (this creates an equally delicious and rustic cookie!
- These cookies are best stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks (in an air-tight container)
- While I have not had great success using cookie presses for type of recipe, it is possible and give it a try if you feel confident!
