Vaniljekranse (Danish Vanilla Wreaths)

Also called Danish vanilla wreaths, Danish butter cookies

Piped Danish butter-almond rings, crisp and sandy, a classic of the Christmas cookie tin.

Makes
about 32 cookies

Based on Skandibaking's vaniljekranse

Ingredients

Scale

Pan sizes, times and temperatures in the method are not scaled.

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 390°F (200°C), with convection if you have it. Line baking sheets with parchment.

  2. Beat the butter (150 g10½ tbsp) and sugar (150 g¾ cup) together, then mix in the egg (1) and vanilla (1½ tsp) until fully combined.

  3. Fold in the almond flour (50 g½ cup), all-purpose flour (200 g1⅔ cups) and salt until the dough is pipeable. Don't overwork it.

  4. Pipe rings through a large open star tip onto the parchment, about 12 to a sheet.

  5. Freeze each piped sheet 5 to 10 minutes so the ridges hold, while you pipe the next.

  6. Bake one sheet at a time, 8 to 10 minutes, until just golden on the bottom and edges. Add a minute at a time if needed; they burn fast.

  7. Cool on a rack.

Notes

  • Piping. The dough is stiff, so use a sturdy bag. A zip-top bag with the corner cut gives plain rings, and a meat grinder with a cookie attachment is the traditional Danish tool.
  • Make ahead. The dough keeps overnight in the fridge and freezes; thaw it fully. It firms up a lot when cold, so pipe first and refrigerate the shapes, or bring the dough back to room temperature before piping.
  • Gone soft? Crisp them again in a 350°F oven for 3 to 4 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

Pan sizes, times and temperatures in the method are not scaled.