Irresistible Danish Butter Cookie Recipe in Minutes

Buttery, delicate, and irresistibly crisp, these Danish butter cookies dance on the taste buds with nostalgic charm.

A treasured Danish butter cookie recipe brings memories of cozy afternoons and sweet childhood moments.

Each golden, perfectly shaped cookie promises a melt-in-your-mouth experience that connects generations through simple, elegant ingredients.

Classic European baking techniques shine through in this straightforward yet magical treat.

Delicate sugar crystals add a delightful crunch to the tender cookie base.

Rich, high-quality butter creates a luxurious texture that makes these cookies truly special.

Bake a batch and watch as everyone falls in love with this timeless Danish delicacy.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes (per batch)

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 172 kcal

Servings: 25

Danish Butter Cookie Ingredient Guide

• Butter: Creamy foundation that provides rich flavor and tender texture, choose high-quality unsalted butter for best results.
• Sugar: Sweetens and helps create delicate, crisp edges, opt for fine granulated sugar for smoother mixing.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile and balances sweetness, use fine sea salt for even distribution.

• Vanilla: Adds warm, aromatic depth to cookie flavor, select pure vanilla extract for most authentic taste.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and provides structure, use fresh room-temperature eggs for optimal incorporation.

• Flour: Creates cookie's delicate framework, use all-purpose flour and ensure precise measurement for consistent texture.

Must-Have Tools for Buttery Cookie Making

• Stand Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and mixing ingredients smoothly and efficiently.
• Paddle Attachment: Crucial for achieving light, fluffy butter mixture without overworking the dough.
• Large Star Tip (Wilton 1M, Ateco 844, or 827): Perfect for creating classic Danish butter cookie shape and texture.
• Piping Bag: Needed for precisely shaping and decorating cookies with professional-looking swirls.
• Baking Sheets: Provides even heat distribution and supports cookie formation during baking.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and ensures easy cookie removal and cleanup.
• Rubber Spatula: Great for scraping bowl sides and ensuring all ingredients are fully incorporated.
• Wire Rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions for consistent results.

How to Shape and Bake Danish Butter Cookies

Danish Butter Cookie Magic

• Warm Kitchen Preparation

Create a cozy baking environment by warming your oven and preparing clean baking surfaces. Set the temperature to a perfect golden heat that promises delicious results.

• Butter Transformation

Whip butter into a cloud-like texture, blending it with sweet sugar until the mixture becomes light and dreamy. This magical process creates the foundation of your delightful cookies.

• Flavor Infusion

Gently introduce vanilla and egg into the buttery mixture, stirring with care to create a smooth, harmonious blend that promises rich flavor in every bite.

• Flour Embrace

Tenderly fold flour into the creamy mixture, treating the dough with gentle strokes. The key is a soft touch that keeps the cookies light and tender.

• Cookie Sculpting

Use a piping bag with a elegant star tip to create beautiful swirls of dough on your baking sheet. Each cookie becomes a delicate work of art, promising a visual and taste sensation.

• Golden Moment

Bake until the edges transform into a gorgeous golden hue, watching carefully to capture the perfect moment of cookie perfection. The aroma will fill your kitchen with irresistible warmth.

• Final Flourish

Once cooled, add a touch of elegance with a drizzle of white chocolate or a sprinkle of delicate decorations. These cookies are not just a treat, but a moment of pure joy to share.

Flavor Tips and Butter Cookie Upgrades

• Butter Cookie Brilliance: Tips to Elevate Your Danish Treat
• Cookie Texture Magic: Ensure your butter is at room temperature but not too soft. Cold butter creates crumbly cookies, while overly soft butter leads to spread-out, flat results.
• Piping Pro Techniques: Practice your piping skills before the final batch. Hold the piping bag at a 90-degree angle to the baking sheet for perfect, consistent swirls that look professionally made.
• Make-Ahead Master Plan: Freeze the unbaked cookie dough in a piping bag for up to 2 weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and pipe directly onto baking sheets when ready to bake.
• Flavor Adventure Twists: Experiment with flavor additions like orange zest, almond extract, or ground cardamom to give these classic cookies a unique personal touch. A small amount goes a long way in transforming the traditional recipe.

Serving These Cookies for Holiday Cheer

• Cozy Coffee Companion: Pair these delicate butter cookies with a warm cappuccino or espresso, letting the rich cookie complement the coffee's bold flavors for a delightful afternoon treat.
• Sweet Dessert Platter: Create an elegant dessert board featuring these cookies alongside dark chocolate pieces, fresh berries, and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream for a sophisticated presentation.
• Gift-Worthy Packaging: Layer the cooled cookies in a decorative tin or clear cellophane bag, tied with a festive ribbon, making them a perfect homemade gift for holidays or special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
• Kid-Friendly Decorating Station: Set up a fun decorating area where children can drizzle melted chocolate, sprinkle colorful candies, or dust powdered sugar over the cookies, turning baking into a playful family activity.

Save and Store Butter Cookies the Smart Way

• Refrigerator Retreat: Store cooled Danish butter cookies in an airtight container, layering between sheets of parchment paper to maintain their delicate shape and prevent crumbling.
• Freezing Finesse: Wrap unbaked cookie dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before piping and baking for fresh, homemade treats anytime.
• Shelf Life Secrets: Properly stored cookies will stay crisp and delicious for 7-10 days at room temperature. Keep them away from direct sunlight and moisture to maintain their signature crunch.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate. Let the dough soften slightly at room temperature before piping, ensuring perfect texture and easy handling.

Heavenly Danish Butter Cookie Recipe

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• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Danish butter cookies embody pure Danish culinary tradition with simple ingredients creating nostalgic sweetness. Delicate rounds melt in your palate, connecting generations through classic comfort and buttery perfection that calls you home.

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Ingredients

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• 2 cups (240 grams / 8.5 oz) flour
• ½ cup (100 grams / 3.5 oz) sugar
• 1 cup (226 grams / 8 oz) European style butter, room temperature
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tbsp (15 mL / 0.5 fl oz) vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp (0.6 grams) salt
• white chocolate (optional)
• M&M’s (optional)
• sprinkles (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Ignite oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper, creating an ideal non-stick landscape for delicate cookie crafting.
2. Mixing Base: Utilize stand mixer to harmonize butter, sugar, and salt into a cloud-like, pillowy consistency that promises an ethereal cookie texture.
3. Binding Elements: Incorporate vanilla extract and egg, blending with precision until the mixture achieves a seamless, uniform composition, meticulously scraping mixer walls to integrate every morsel.
4. Flour Integration: Delicately fold flour into wet ingredients, using gentle motions that preserve the cookie’s signature tenderness, ceasing mixer immediately upon complete incorporation.
5. Shaping Technique: Transfer dough to piping bag fitted with an elegant star tip, ready to sculpt classic Danish cookie silhouettes with artistic precision.
6. Cookie Formation: Pipe elegant swirls onto prepared sheets, maintaining strategic spacing to accommodate graceful expansion during baking process.
7. Baking Performance: Slide into preheated oven, monitoring closely for 12-15 minutes until edges transform into a soft, inviting golden embrace, signaling peak perfection.
8. Cooling Strategy: Momentarily rest cookies on baking sheets to stabilize structural integrity, then transition to wire rack for complete cooling.
9. Finishing Touch: Optionally embellish with melted white chocolate drizzle, decorative sprinkles, or vibrant candy accents while cookies retain gentle warmth.

Notes

• Butter Quality Matters: Use high-fat European-style butter for authentic Danish cookie richness and superior flavor profile.
• Piping Precision: Chill dough for 15-20 minutes before piping to maintain crisp swirl shapes and prevent spreading during baking.
• Temperature Control: Watch cookies carefully between 12-15 minute mark, as ovens vary and golden edges indicate perfect doneness.
• Storage Secrets: Store completely cooled cookies in airtight containers with parchment between layers to maintain crispness for up to 7 days.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes (per batch)
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Danish

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 172
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 1 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 33 mg