Classic Danish Butter Cookies – Delicately crisp, melt-in-your-mouth holiday favorites

Classic Danish Butter Cookies – Delicately crisp, melt-in-your-mouth holiday favorites

Classic Danish Butter Cookies are iconic for a reason — delicately crisp, buttery, lightly sweet, and perfectly shaped into elegant swirls or simple rounds. These cookies have that unmistakable melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich, nostalgic flavor that instantly reminds you of festive tins shared during the holidays. With only a handful of ingredients and a traditional piping method, Danish butter cookies are simple yet sophisticated. They’re perfect for cookie boxes, gifting, holiday parties, or enjoying with a warm drink. Once you make them at home, you’ll never look at the store-bought tins the same way again!

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Servings: 20 Cookies

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Butter Cookie Dough

1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
⅔ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ½ tsp almond extract for Danish flavor
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt

Optional Decorations

Coarse sugar for sprinkling
Melted chocolate for dipping
Festive sprinkles

Equipment

Mixing bowls
Hand mixer or stand mixer
Piping bag
Large open-star piping tip (Wilton 1M or 2D)
Baking sheets
Parchment paper
Cooling rack

Method

Step 1: Cream the butter & sugar

Beat softened butter and sugar together for 2–3 minutes until pale, fluffy, and creamy — this step creates that classic Danish cookie texture.

Step 2: Add egg & flavor

Mix in the egg and vanilla (or almond extract).
Beat until fully incorporated.

Step 3: Add dry ingredients

Add flour and salt.
Mix just until combined; dough should be soft, smooth, and pipeable — not stiff.
If too stiff to pipe:
→ Add 1–2 tablespoons milk until the texture softens.

Step 4: Pipe cookie shapes

Transfer dough into a piping bag fitted with a large open-star tip.
Pipe classic shapes such as:
Swirls
Rosettes
S-shapes
Pretzel-style twists
Sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired.

Step 5: Chill

Place the piped cookies in the refrigerator for 20–25 minutes.
This helps them hold their beautiful shape while baking.

Step 6: Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bake 10–12 minutes, until the edges turn a light golden color.

Step 7: Cool

Let cookies cool for 5 minutes on the tray, then transfer to a rack.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Store in a tin or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Freeze baked cookies for 3 months — thaw at room temperature.

Dough can be frozen for 2 months and piped after thawing.

🥄 Variations

Classic Almond Danish Cookies
Replace vanilla with almond extract.

Chocolate-Dipped Butter Cookies
Dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate and top with sprinkles.

Lemon Butter Cookies
Add lemon zest to the dough.

Cinnamon Sugar Danish Cookies
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before chilling.

Sandwich Cookies
Pipe two matching shapes and fill with chocolate ganache or jam.

❓ 10 FAQs

Why is my dough too stiff to pipe?
Add 1–2 tablespoons milk until it becomes pipeable.

Can I use salted butter?
Yes — reduce added salt by half.

What piping tips work best?
Large star tips (1M or 2D) for classic shapes.

Can I skip the piping and form them by hand?
Yes — roll balls and flatten with a fork.

Do I need to chill the cookies?
Yes — it helps them retain shape while baking.

Can I add chocolate chips?
Traditional butter cookies are plain, but mini chips work fine.

Can I make these dairy-free?
Use vegan butter sticks, not margarine.

Can I make the dough ahead?
Yes — refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze.

Why did my cookies spread too much?
Dough wasn’t chilled or butter was overly soft.

Why did my cookies crack when piping?
Dough may be too thick — add a touch of milk.

🏁 Conclusion

Classic Danish Butter Cookies are elegant, buttery, crisp, and melt beautifully on the tongue — the ultimate simple holiday cookie. With only a few quality ingredients and traditional piping, you can create bakery-worthy treats perfect for gifting and celebrating. These cookies bring nostalgic charm and refined sweetness to any dessert spread.