Kurabiye — Crumbly Vanilla Butter Cookies

Saved Picnic on a Broom recipe. Keep airtight up to 5 days; cookies soften slightly over time.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Dice butter and soften completely at room temperature; this may take up to 3 hours in a cold room. Add vanilla and beat for 30–60 seconds until creamy.

Step 2

Sift cornflour and dough icing sugar into the butter and beat on lowest speed until incorporated and crumbly. Sift in half the flour and mix gently, then add the rest and mix by hand into coarse crumbs. Gently bring together into a rough ball without over-kneading. Only if too dry, work in cold water 15 ml at a time, up to about 30 ml.

Step 3

Line a tray. Roll small handfuls into ropes about 3 cm thick, then cut into roughly 3 cm square pieces. Space 4 cm apart on the tray. Makes about 23 cookies. Press a fork lightly onto each to form lines without flattening too much. Freeze uncovered for 30 minutes or refrigerate for 2 hours.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 160°C with a rack in the middle. Bake for 22–24 minutes until bottoms and edges just turn golden; tops should remain pale. Cool completely on the tray, then sift the remaining icing sugar over.