Danish Shortbread

The Danish butter cookies are a rich and crunchy cookies with which usually accompany coffee or a glass of milk. The butter, sugar and flour base of this dessert makes it accessible because of the few ingredients and preparation steps that are needed. In fact, it is no coincidence that these types of cookies are among the first that children learn to make when they are curious to learn something about cooking.

These Danish cookies are given various flavors and colors. It is also  a base recipe for other more daring and more complex sweet preparations. Therefore, let’s try to make this delicious snack, without complications.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of butter (190 g)
• 250 g of self-rising flour, sifted
• ½ cup of sugar
• 1 egg
• A spoonful of vanilla essence
• 1 level tablespoon baking powder

Utensils for Danish shortbread cookies

• First of all, we are going to need a smooth and firm work surface
• An electric mixer
• A large bowl
• Also a roller
• Cookie cutters
• Lastly, a baking sheet

Preparation

• First, preheat the oven to 175ºC.
• Then, mix the 150 grams of butter (at room temperature) with the ½ cup of sugar in a blender, until you get a fluffy and homogeneous mixture.
• The mixer must be on high speed. This step takes about four minutes.
• Thus, add the egg and continue beating.
• Now add the tablespoon of vanilla essence.
• Finally, add the 250 grams of sifted flour  along with the level teaspoon of baking powder. Keep beating until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
• Then flour your work surface.
• Begin to knead with your hands until the dough hardens a little more and it tends less to crumble.
• Divide into two parts.  Once that is done, wrap each part in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.

• You cannot skip this cooling process, since it is the way in which the dough can be worked easily and remains firm.
• After time, roll out the dough with the help of a rolling pin until it is approximately 4 mm thick.
• Thus, begin to shape the cookies with molds of the figures you prefer.
• Flour the baking sheet and place each cookie with enough space between them to bake smoothly.
• You can sprinkle sugar, place lemon or orange zest on each cookie. You can also place a piece of chocolate in the center.
• Bake the Danish shortbread cookies for 20 minutes or until they just start to brown.
• Finally, take it out of the oven, let it rest and taste them.

Data of interest

• In the list of ingredients you can add milk to the preparation. If you choose to make some buttermilk cookies, be sure to add more flour and sugar.
• These Danish shortbread cookies are ideal for decorating. Make a royal icing or icing with an egg white, a generous amount of powdered sugar, and artificial coloring. When it is frosted, they dry and they are beautiful and colorful cookies.
• Another filling idea is to wet a part of the cookie with nuts, tempered chocolate or place fondant on it. With this last idea, there are some elegant cookies, perfect for “candy bar” at weddings and first communions.
• From this recipe derives the recipe for cookies called “ox eye” which are nothing more than a cookie spread with jam and on top of it, another cookie with a circle in the center.
• Danish shortbread cookies are a traditional Christmas dessert when seen for sale in supermarkets, cafes and candy stores.
• A Christmas gift idea for family and friends is a jar with homemade cookies.
• You could partially substitute the butter for cream cheese.

Image courtesy of Carla Bbneko Herrera.