Christmas cookies baking means it’s time for… Danish wedding cookies?
But Kathleen! you say. We aren’t prepping for a wedding — we’re prepping for the holidays!
Have I ever led you astray before? My Danish wedding cookies recipe is packed with holiday favorites. It’s the crumbly, buttery, powdered-sugary lovechild of cinnamon cookies and pecan cookies. I almost hesitate to call these treats cookies — they’re more delicate morsels of all the is best and pure about Christmas.
Yes, they’re that good!
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What I Love About Danish Wedding Cookies Recipe
My Danish wedding cookies recipe is so simple and so delicious that I promise you, you have room on your baking list for this addition!
- Easy to make
- Butter + Powdered Sugar = YUM
- Quick! Done in less than 30 minutes!
- Messy but fun
Recipe Notes
My Danish wedding cookies recipe is the treat that rounds out every tray of holiday cookies. That delicate, dusty part of every luscious dessert display. The bite that makes guests close their eyes in bliss. The–
Okay, okay! I’ll stop selling you on it. I just love these cookies, all right? I mean, what’s not to love? Let me explain!
Ingredient Notes
What’s in a Name? Confectioners sugar. Powdered sugar. Icing sugar. WHAT IS THIS THING? Actually, it’s all the same! Whatever you call it, it’s good stuff.
And the basis of powdered sugar is exactly as it sounds — it’s sugar crystals that have been ground into a powder, making them extra fine and perfect for delicate, dreamy desserts.
Go for Pure: Since my Danish wedding cookies recipe is so simple, it’s important to get the best of each ingredient. When you add your vanilla, make sure you use pure vanilla extract — not imitation vanilla. Imitation vanilla is just as it sounds — not real vanilla at all!
Better Butter: Hate creaming together butter and sugar? Especially when a recipe calls for powdered sugar, like this one, creaming butter and sugar can quickly turn MESSY. One trick is to make sure your butter is softened to room temperature.
Forgot to leave your butter out? No worries! My favorite trick is to grate your butter. Yes, like with your cheese grater! The smaller particles make whipping it up with sugar so much easier!
Storing Tips
The best — and worst! — part of Christmas cookie season is figuring out what to do with all the treats you get and the ones leftover. Some cookies need to be stored only in the fridge; some can be frozen; some can be left on the counter to tempt you all holiday long. Where does my Danish wedding cookies recipe fall into this? Read on!
Can You Freeze This?
Yes! I l0ve freezing Christmas cookie to enjoy throughout the long, cold winter months. And treats like my Danish wedding cookies recipe can last for six months! Not that something made of butter and powdered sugar will go uneaten. I mean, really now. These cookies are DELICIOUS.
But if you do manage to salvage a few to freeze, be sure to get a good, tight seal on your container or bag. The last thing you want is to find out your precious holiday treats are inedible!
Make Ahead Tips
My Danish wedding cookies recipe comes together very quickly once you start, so I’m afraid there isn’t a whole lot you can do to cut the (already minimal) time. But! You can always bake the cookies through step three, and then save the final step for just before serving.
Plus, rolling the baked cookies in their final layer of powdered sugar is a fun activity for kids! Just prepare for things to get messy. Messy, but fun!
How Long Can You Keep This?
My Danish wedding cookies will do well at room temp for up to three weeks. Even so, I keep them in an airtight container, just because stale cookies are definitely not delicious cookies! You can use either a bag or a sealed tub, but I prefer using a bag — any excess powdered sugar falls off and sticks to the other cookies, letting them get all flavorful and dusted.
And I’m not at all too proud to admit that I adore eating the leftover powdered sugar and cookie crumbs from the bottom of the bag. Don’t tell my kids, but it’s really great sprinkled on cereal.
Recipe Variations
Can I Add Chocolate Chips To This Recipe?
Name one Christmas cookie recipe that doesn’t get better with chocolate. You can’t, can you? My Danish wedding cookies recipe is no different!
But if you want even more cocoa goodness, try chocolate chip shortbread cookies. The buttery shortbread is reminiscent of these Danish Wedding treats, all crumbly and crunchy. Crockpot candy is always a winner too, leaning more towards the “treat” side and less towards the “cookie” side of holiday desserts.
And finally, there’s always the classic Christmas crack. You’ll have people begging you for the recipe!
Can I Use Almonds Instead?
I love swapping the pecans for almonds in my delicate Danish wedding cookies recipe! There’s just something about almond’s unobtrusive flavor that goes so well with light, airy powdered sugar. almond crescent cookies are a close cousin of this recipe, as are almond shortbread cookies. Make all three and reach a Christmas cookie trifecta!
Can I Turn These Into Butter Cookies?
Is there anything more satisfying than Christmas butter cookies? Just the name makes my mouth water! This Danish wedding cookies recipe is very close to butter pecan cookies — a few adjustments more, and you’ve got butter crunch cookies.
That’s the perfect theme for a holiday tray if ever I’ve seen one: butter!
What Other Christmas Cookies Can I Make With Cinnamon?
If you’re looking for other themes for your cookie trays, why not go with cinnamon? Start with soft gingerbread cookies, a chewy, gooey favorite, and transition into crunchy, munchy gingerbread man cookies before ending on a worldwide favorite you can make at home: biscoff cookies!
What Other Pecan Cookies Can I Make?
Pecan shortbread cookies are the ones that instantly spring to mind when I think of classic shortbread. But want something a little more unusual for your nut lovers? Pecan pie cookies are the best parts of both cookies and the classic pie! Or add a tropical twist with coconut pecan cookies. Chewy and crunchy and a whole lot of yum!
Danish Wedding Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cups unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cups pecans finely ground
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup - plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cups confectioners sugar for rolling or more as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer set on medium speed, cream together butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in cinnamon, salt, pecans, and vanilla. Gradually mix in flour and combine well.
- Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes. Cookies do not brown.
- Let cookies cool for a couple of minutes then roll warm cookies in remaining confectioners' sugar and place on a wire rack to cool completely. When cool, dust with extra powdered sugar.
Nutrition
More Cookie Balls Recipes…
My Danish wedding cookies recipe is a bridge between Christmas cookie and other Christmas treats. Want to see what else you can fill your treat trays with?
- Oreo Balls –America’s favorite cookie taken up a level!
- Rum Balls – Bring on the holiday booze!
- Bourbon Balls – Your rum balls need a friend!
- Mexican Wedding Cookies – Go for a wedding cookie theme.
- Peanut Butter Balls – Protein-packed and ready for action.
Conclusion
When you serve my Danish wedding cookies at your holiday event and people flock to you, demanding to know how you made such a delectable treat, I hope you smile knowingly and shrug as if it was the simplest thing in the world. Because even though these cookies are simple to make, they definitely don’t taste that way, and you’ll have your guests worshipping you as a baking deity!
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