Danish Salted Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) chilled salted butter, cut into pieces
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more
• 1 cup sugar (sanding or turbinado)
• 3″-diameter and a 1 1/2″-diameter fluted cookie cutter

Preparation:

• Combine butter, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer on high speed and beat until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

• Beat in 1 of the eggs and reduce the mixing speed to low. Gradually mix in 2 cups of the flour. Form dough into a disk and wrap in plastic. Chill until for about 2 hours and it should be firm.

• Preheat to 350°F. Let disk of dough sit at room temperature until softened. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work space, until about 3/8″ thick.

• Punch out rounds with large cutter and continue to punch out centers with smaller cutter. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. Make sure that the cookies are spaced 1 1/2″ apart. Pat scraps and chill again until needed.

• Beat remaining egg in a small bowl with 1 tsp. water; brush cookies with egg wash; sprinkle with sugar. Chill for 15 minutes.

• Bake, rotating baking sheets halfway through, until edges are golden brown, 10–15 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; let cool.

• Repeat with chilled scraps and remaining egg wash and sugar.