Best Aunt Elma Zuerchers Butter Cookies Recipes

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DANISH BUTTER COOKIES



Danish Butter Cookies image

These staple Christmas cookies, often sold in a decorative blue tin at the grocery store, are similar to sweetened, crispy shortbread but with an unbelievable vanilla-almond flavor. Our homemade version is even better-- soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, with a fresher, lighter and more delicate taste than the industrial made treats. You can serve them plain, or jazz them up with melted chocolate and sprinkles or a maraschino cherry in the middle to give you all the holiday feels.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 1h30m

Yield 24 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon whole milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 large egg
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (see Cook's Note)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Beat the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Mix in the milk, vanilla extract, almond extract and egg.
  • Reduce the speed to low and mix in the flour and salt until just combined. Transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe 2-inch circles spaced 2 inches apart onto two ungreased baking sheets. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
  • Bake until the cookies are just set and the bottoms are slightly golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

THE BEST BUTTER COOKIES



The Best Butter Cookies image

Your search is over -- this perfect butter cookie will stay in your recipe box for years. It's crisp, yet tender and perfect for tea for two or cookies for Santa. Plus, you have the choice to make drop cookies or a slice-and-bake version!

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 45m

Yield 36 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 cups all-purpose flour (see Cook's Note)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) good-quality unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup turbinado sugar

Steps:

  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter and granulated sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on high speed for a full 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl halfway through the mixing; the butter should be very light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on medium speed until well combined. Add half the dry ingredients and beat on low speed to combine. Scrape down the mixing bowl before adding the remaining dry ingredients and beat to combine. Refrigerate for 1 hour in the bowl for drop cookies, or form into a 1-inch log for slice-and-bake cookies.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place the turbinado sugar in a small bowl. For drop cookies, scoop the cookie dough with a 1 tablespoon-size cookie scoop and then dip the tops of the cookie dough balls into the sugar. Place onto the prepared baking sheet.
  • For slice-and-bake cookies, cut the log into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Press the tops into the sugar and place on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake the cookies until slightly puffed and lightly golden on the bottom, about 15 minutes.

BUTTER COOKIES



Butter Cookies image

This great butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. -Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 35m

Yield about 6-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 tablespoons 2% milk
Red food coloring, optional

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375°. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Using a cookie press fitted with a heart disk, press dough 1 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake until set but not brown, 6-8 minutes. Cool on wire racks., For frosting, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to reach a spreading consistency. If desired, tint with food coloring. Decorate cookies as desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 157 calories, Fat 7g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 24mg cholesterol, Sodium 99mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (15g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

OLD FASHIONED BUTTER COOKIES



Old Fashioned Butter Cookies image

These are not the common butter cookies you are so used to seeing. This is an old German recipe given to me by my Aunt. I have been making these since I was married 31 years ago. They are rolled very thin, almost like a wafer than a cookie. The 6 egg yolks give it the richness that other butter cookies lack. I always look through websites and cookbooks to see if anyone else has a butter cookie recipe like this - I have not found one yet. I only updated the method to use a food processor instead of creaming the butter by hand. These are truly delicious and special.

Provided by Joanne117

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h15m

Yield 7 dozen, 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 3/4 cups flour, sifted
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 lb unsalted butter (cold)
6 egg yolks (Large Eggs)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
red sugar crystals
green sugar crystals

Steps:

  • Sift dry ingredients together. Place in food processor and process a few seconds to mix. Cut each stick of butter into 8 pieces and place in food processor. Process 20 to 30 seconds until butter is cut in evenly. Add egg yolks and vanilla and process until mixture forms a ball. Remove, divide into 4 equal balls, flatten each and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
  • Preheat over to 375 degrees. Cut aluminum foil to fit approximately 4 cookie sheets. Using a well floured pastry cloth and rolling pin cover, roll 1 section of dough, leaving the rest refrigerated until needed. Roll evenly approximately 1/8" thick (or actually 1/8" thin). Using small size cookies cutters, cut cookies (they should remain in the cutter, then tap out on to the foil lined cookie sheets). Place cookies 1/2 inch apart. Sprinkle with sugar crystals. (Easier to do one whole sheet red, next sheet green). Reroll scraps and roll out, trying to handle dough as little as possible. Don't reroll dough a third time, use another refrigerated section of dough. Bake approximately 8 minutes, one sheet at a time. Cookies should be slightly golden, remove quickly as once they start to brown, they could burn fast. Immediately slide foil off cookie sheet and leave cookies on foil to cool. Repeat with remaining dough. Store in a wax paper lined, cookie tin. Cookies reach their taste potential after a day and will stay fresh in a cookie tin approximatelly 3 weeks. Actual yield is based on the size cookie cutter used. I use a very small size, approximately 1 1/2 " across.

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