Danish Cookie Rings (Vanille Kranse)

Submitted by Scandigirl

"If you are of Danish background you'll long for this traditional Christmas cookie. It is not Christmas in our house without Vanille Kranse served..."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Yields: 5 dozen

ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup blanched almond
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 8 candied red cherries
• 16 green glazed cherries

directions

1. Grease cookie sheets; set aside.
2. Process almonds in food processor until ground, but not pasty.
3. Place almonds, flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl.
4. Cut butter into flour mixture with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly.
5. Beat egg, milk and vanilla in a small bowl with a fork until well blended.
6. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; stir until soft dough forms.
7. Spoon dough into a pastry bag fitted with medium star tip.
8. Pipe 3-inch rings 2-inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.
9. Refrigerate rings 15 minutes or until firm.
10. Preheat oven to 375°F.
11. Cut each cherry in half. Cut each red cherry half into quarters; cut each green cherry half into 4 slivers.
12. Press red cherry quarter onto each ring where ends meet.
13. Arrange 2 green cherry slivers on either side of red cherry to form leaves.
14. Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden.
15. Remove cookies to wire racks; cool completely.
16. Store tightly covered at room temperature or freeze up to 3 months.