Pecan-Crowned Danish Butter Delights

Pecan-Crowned Danish Butter Delights

Delight in these buttery cookies topped with crunchy pecans that offer a perfect balance of sweetness and texture.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup cold butter
• 3 tablespoons coarse sugar
• to taste pieces pecan halves

Method

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sifted flour and sugar, then stir in an egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
2. Add cold butter in small pieces and use a pastry cutter to blend until the texture resembles coarse crumbs. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill for 20 minutes.
3. Once chilled, split the dough into two equal portions and roll each into logs about 11 inches in length. Wrap one log in wax paper followed by plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight.
4. On a plate, pour out 3 tablespoons of coarse sugar. Brush the second log with a beaten egg and roll it in the sugar until fully coated. Wrap this sugared log in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight too.
5. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
6. Slice the unsugared log into rounds that are approximately 1/8-inch thick and arrange them on the baking sheets, ensuring space between each cookie. Place a pecan half on top of each slice.
7. Slice the sugared log into 1/8-inch thick pieces and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets. Optionally, sprinkle additional coarse sugar on each cookie for extra sweetness.
8. Bake one tray at a time in the preheated oven until the edges turn a light golden color, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.