Personal

Car Stuff

Extras

Sweet Pretzel Butter Cookies

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.
From: Saveur MAKES ABOUT 1 DOZEN COOKIES

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

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 1¾” thick; wrap dough in plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

2. Heat oven to 350°. Unwrap dough; cut dough crosswise into twelve ½” pieces. Working with one piece dough at a time, roll dough into a 9” rope, about ½” 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 ½ 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.