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–+ servings
round cookies coated with sugar on a white fabric.
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5 from 7 votes

German Heidesand Cookies

Heidesand or heath sand cookies are traditional German shortcrustcookies rolled in sugar, sliced, and baked. Really simple but really good.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: German
Servings: 35
Calories: 77kcal
Author: Adina

Ingredients

  • 100 g soft unsalted butter 3.5 oz/ scant ½ cup (Note 1)
  • 50 g icing sugar 1.7 oz/ ½ cup
  • 25 g marzipan paste 0.8 oz/ ¼ cup (grated and loosely packed)
  • 1 sachet vanilla sugar or ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract (Note 2)
  • 1 organic lemon only the zest
  • 125 g all-purpose flour 4.5 oz/ 1 cup
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions

  • Pastry: Mix the soft butter, icing sugar, grated marzipan paste, vanilla sugar or extract, and grated lemon zest using a handheld mixer. The mixture should get creamy. Sieve the flour over this mixture and incorporate it. Form a long pastry roll, about 4 cm/ 1.6 inches thick. Halve the roll, and wrap each half in plastic wrap.
    100 g soft unsalted butter/ 3.5 oz/ scant ½ cup + 50 g icing sugar/ ½ cup + 25 g marzipan paste/ 0.8 oz/ ¼ cup + 1 sachet vanilla sugar or ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract + 1 organic lemon, the zest + 125 g all-purpose flour/ 1 cup
  • Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 175°C/ 350°F. Line two baking sheets with baking paper.
  • Cut cookies: Whisk the egg yolk with a fork and brush the pastry rolls all over. Place the granulated sugar on a plate and toss the roll to coat in sugar. Cut the rolls into ½ cm/ 0.2 inch slices. Place the pastry slices on the prepared baking trays.
    1 egg yolk + 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • Bake for about 10-15 minutes until the cookies are golden.

Notes

  1. Always use a digital kitchen scale in baking; it ensures the best results (Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab).
  2. Typically you would use vanilla sugar, which is very common in Germany. However, if it's not available where you live, replace it with ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 22mg | Sugar: 8g