Sweet Pretzel Butter Cookies

Name: Sweet Pretzel Butter Cookies
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes About 1 dozen cookies
Ingredients: 7 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened; 3 tbsp. granulated sugar; 1 egg, plus 2 yolks; 2 cups flour; 1 ⁄ 8 tsp. kosher salt; Zest of 1 lemon; White sanding sugar, for garnish

Serves
makes About 1 dozen cookies

HELEN ROSNER

An egg wash before baking is the secret to the gorgeous golden color of these pretzel-shaped butter cookies, adapted from Maida Heatter's Brand-New Book of Great Cookies. A sprinkle of sanding sugar adds sparkle and a bit of crunch.

Ingredients

7 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
3 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 egg, plus 2 yolks
2 cups flour
¹⁄₈ tsp. kosher salt
Zest of 1 lemon
White sanding sugar, for garnish

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Instructions

Step 1

Place butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment; beat until fluffy. Add egg and 1 yolk; mix until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add dry ingredients; beat until a smooth, stiff dough forms. Form dough into an 8” long tube, about 1 3⁄4” thick; wrap dough in plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

Step 2

Heat oven to 350°. Unwrap dough; cut dough crosswise into twelve 1⁄2” pieces. Working with one piece dough at a time, roll dough into a 9” rope, about 1⁄2” thick. Transfer rope to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and keeping the center of the rope on the paper, pick up both ends, cross one end over the other, and twist; attach each end to the sides of the pretzel. Whisk remaining yolk with 1⁄2 tsp. water in a bowl; lightly brush cookies and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake cookies until golden, 12 minutes. Let cookies cool completely before serving.

Place butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment; beat until fluffy. Add egg and 1 yolk; mix until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add dry ingredients; beat until a smooth, stiff dough forms. Form dough into an 8” long tube, about 1 3⁄4” thick; wrap dough in plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350°. Unwrap dough; cut dough crosswise into twelve 1⁄2” pieces. Working with one piece dough at a time, roll dough into a 9” rope, about 1⁄2” thick. Transfer rope to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and keeping the center of the rope on the paper, pick up both ends, cross one end over the other, and twist; attach each end to the sides of the pretzel. Whisk remaining yolk with 1⁄2 tsp. water in a bowl; lightly brush cookies and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake cookies until golden, 12 minutes. Let cookies cool completely before serving.