Keebler Danish Wedding Cookies are tiny, sweet treats that are great for special moments or when you’re craving something sugary. These cookies are known for being super soft and having a subtle flavor.
They are made by combining unsalted butter and all-purpose flour to create a tender, crumbly texture. The butter and powdered sugar are mixed together until they become light and fluffy, forming the base of the cookie dough. This process makes the cookies tender and soft.
The dough is flavored with finely chopped pecans or walnuts, which add a pleasant nuttiness and a bit of crunch to the cookies. These nuts not only give the cookies a nice texture but also enhance their overall taste. They pair well with the sweet, buttery dough and add a subtle richness.
Once the dough is ready, small portions are shaped into little balls and baked until they turn slightly golden around the edges. The cookies come out of the oven with a tender inside and a slightly crumbly exterior.
To get their special look and some extra sweetness, the warm cookies are rolled in powdered sugar. This sugary coating not only looks good but also provides a nice contrast to the buttery flavor. As the cookies cool, the powdered sugar forms a thin, sweet layer on the outside.
Keebler Danish Wedding Cookies are fantastic for various celebrations like weddings, showers, and holiday parties. They’re small, look elegant, and have an addictive taste that’s hard to resist.
The story behind this recipe
Keebler Danish Wedding Cookies aren’t Danish in origin, nor are they exclusively for weddings. They are also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies and have a fascinating history that goes back to the Middle East before making their way to Europe and the Americas.
Even though they often appear on Christmas cookie trays and go by the name “snowball cookies” during the holidays, Danish Wedding Cookies do have some wedding significance. These cookies are considered a good luck charm on a wedding day. The nuts in the recipe symbolize the challenges in life, and the sugar represents the sweetness of a happy marriage. How lovely and fitting for weddings!
Wedding cookies, as per chef Norma Salzar, seem to have started in the Middle East and then traveled through Europe to the Americas. Today, you can find various versions of this recipe in different countries and cultures, each with its unique name and ingredients.
These cookies have lots of different names too, like Mexican wedding cookies, Italian wedding cookies, and Russian tea cakes, which are some of the most common ones.
Wedding cookies have an interesting history. It’s believed they started in medieval Arabia and then spread along trade routes, becoming popular in various countries. Eventually, they made their way to Denmark in the late 18th century.
Keebler Danish Wedding Cookies, like many other cookies, have their roots in traditional Danish and European cookie recipes. While they have a Danish influence, these cookies have been widely enjoyed in the United States, thanks to companies like Keebler. They took the original idea of Danish butter cookies and created a version suitable for mass production and distribution.
Keebler Danish Wedding Cookies maintain the same delicate flavor and crumbly texture found in traditional Danish recipes but are made on a larger scale to reach a broader audience. They became popular in the United States and can be found in grocery stores, recognizable by their unique shape and powdered sugar coating.
Although the exact origin of Danish butter cookies isn’t tied to a specific place or person, these cookies have a rich history in European baking. They have been cherished for generations, often handed down in family recipes, and symbolize celebration and togetherness.
Today, Keebler Danish Wedding Cookies are enjoyed worldwide. They’re served at various events, including weddings and holidays, and continue the tradition of Danish baking, bringing joy to those who taste them.
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Here are the ingredients and instructions for making Keebler Danish wedding cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Additional powdered sugar for coating
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Step-by-step instructions for making Keebler Danish wedding cookies
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a baking sheet by covering it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it.
- In a big bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to combine the softened butter and powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and stir it in thoroughly.
- Slowly pour in the flour, and continue mixing until you have a smooth dough. It might look a little crumbly at first, but keep mixing until it becomes smooth.
- Mix in the chopped pecans or walnuts, making sure they’re spread evenly in the dough.
- Take a spoonful of dough and roll it into a small ball. Place these balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between them.
- Put the baking sheet in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn slightly golden.
- Once you’ve taken the cookies out of the oven, allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes.
- While the cookies are still warm, gently roll them in powdered sugar until they’re completely coated. Place these sugar-covered cookies on a wire rack to cool completely.
- If you like, you can give the cookies another light dusting of powdered sugar after they’ve cooled.
Tips for Keebler Danish wedding cookies
- Make sure your pecans are fresh. Pecans have a lot of fat and can go bad quickly. Nobody wants the taste of stale nuts in their cookies.
- Start with cold butter for the best Danish wedding cookies. This means taking the butter from the fridge and cutting it into small cubes.
- For extra fragrant wedding cookies, you can toast the pecans. Make sure to let them cool before adding them to your Danish wedding cookie dough.
- If you prefer, you can skip powdered sugar. I know it’s a classic part of wedding cookies, but I sometimes enjoy these cookies without the extra dusting of powdered sugar. They have a nice, subtle sweetness on their own.
- Keep an eye on the baking time. Overbaked pecan wedding cookies can become dry and crumbly, which isn’t what we want.
Flavourful substitute
Butter: You can substitute butter with margarine or a dairy-free butter alternative if you’re looking to make the cookies dairy-free.
Vanilla Extract: In place of vanilla extract, you can use almond extract or any other flavored extract you prefer. Each will give a slightly different flavor to the cookies.
Flour: All-purpose flour is the best choice for this recipe, but you can experiment with whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour if you have dietary preferences.
Chopped Pecans: You can substitute chopped pecans with chopped walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts, depending on your preference or what you have on hand. If you have nut allergies or want a nut-free version, you can use finely chopped dried fruits like cranberries or apricots.
Note
Remember that these substitutions might alter the flavor and texture of the cookies slightly, so choose them according to your taste and dietary requirements.
Serving suggestions
Ice Cream Sundae: Create an ice cream sundae with the cookies as a base. Add a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and cherries for a classic treat.
Milk Chocolate: Use smooth and creamy milk chocolate for a sweeter choice.
Caramel Drizzle: Enhance the sweetness of the cookies by drizzling them with caramel sauce. The combination of caramel and the cookies’ buttery flavor is divine.
Fruit Salad: Pair these cookies with a refreshing fruit salad made from a variety of fruits like pineapple, kiwi, and mango. The combination of sweet and juicy fruits with the cookies is delightful.
Tea: You can enjoy these cookies with a warm drink. Choose regular black tea or herbal tea.
Lemon Curd: For a delightful citrus twist, serve the cookies with a dollop of zesty lemon curd. The lemony tang complements the sweetness of the cookies.
These additional serving suggestions will make your Keebler Danish Wedding Cookies even more enjoyable. Feel free to mix and match based on your preferences and the occasion.
