Oma’s German Christmas Butter Cookies (Weihnachtskekse)

Method10 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Step 2: Sift the 520 g all-purpose flour and 8 g baking powder together into a bowl; set aside.

   Uses 520 g all-purpose flour · 8 g baking powder

3. 3

   Step 3: In a large bowl, beat the softened 227 g butter with the 200 g granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

   Uses 227 g softened butter · 200 g granulated sugar

4. 4

   Step 4: Beat the 2 eggs into the creamed butter and sugar one at a time, then mix in the 6 g vanilla sugar.

   Uses creamed butter and sugar from step 3 · 2 eggs, added one at a time · 6 g vanilla sugar

5. 5

   Step 5: Gradually mix the prepared flour-and-baking-powder mixture into the butter, sugar and egg mixture. Finish gently kneading by hand until a smooth dough ball forms.

   Uses sifted flour and baking powder from step 2 · butter, sugar and egg mixture from step 4

6. 6

   Step 6: Lightly flour the work surface with a little extra rolling flour. Roll the actual cookie dough evenly to about 3–5 mm (⅛–¼ inch) thick and cut out shapes. Gather and reroll usable dough scraps to cut more cookies.

   Uses butter-cookie dough from step 5 · a little extra flour for the rolling surface

7. 7

   Step 7: Transfer the cut-out dough shapes to the parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving a little room between them. Depending on cutter size and thickness, the batch makes about 40–70 cookies.

   Uses cut-out raw cookies from step 6

8. 8

   Step 8: Bake each tray in the preheated 180°C (350°F) oven for about 8–12 minutes. Check after 8 minutes and remove when the edges are just lightly golden. Repeat for remaining trays as needed.

   Bake one cookie tray · 8 minUses raw cookies arranged on the lined sheets from step 7

9. 9

   Step 9: Let the baked cookies cool completely before decorating.

   Uses baked butter cookies from step 8

10. 10

    Step 10: Serve the cooled cookies plain, or choose the simple glaze option: gradually mix a little water into powdered sugar until the glaze is spreadable, then coat the cooled cookies as desired. Add optional edible vegetarian sprinkles or sugar crystals while the glaze is wet. Allow the glaze to set fully before stacking or storing the cookies.

    Uses completely cooled butter cookies from step 9 · powdered sugar as needed, only if glazing · a little water as needed, only if glazing · edible vegetarian sprinkles or sugar crystals, if desired