Fluchtlings Pletzchen

Preheat oven 325 degrees

250 grams (9 oz) butter
100 grams (3.5 oz) confectioners' sugar
250 grams (9 oz) cornstarch
2 pkg vanilla sugar (if you make your own, 2 Tablespoons)
100 grams (3.5 oz) flour

In a food processor, combine butter and sugars, zap until well mixed.
Open top and add flour and cornstarch. Process well. It will form a ball of dough.
Remove dough, form into log about 2" in diameter. Refrigerate for 2 hrs.
Slice 1/4" thick, place 1" apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Using a fork, press on each cookie leaving marks.
Bake for 12-14 minutes or until slightly brown on edges.

Very flakey, melts in your mouth.
Variation: I made a batch that I added 2 teaspoons of almond extract.
Another batch I added 2 teaspoons of rum extract.
Extracts were added at end while mixture is processing into a ball.
Both were great!
ENJOY

Oma's Butter Cookies

Christmas would not be complete without my mother baking butter cookies. Here's her recipe.

1 lb. flour (3-1/2 cups)
4 egg yolks
1 whole egg
100 gram sugar (1/2 cup)
2 sticks butter, unsalted
1 tsp. almond extract

This is a German recipe, that's why the lbs. and grams...

With a mixer, in a large bowl combine sugar and butter, cream well. Then add egg yolks and whole egg. Mix well. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add almond extract.
You should now have a ball of dough. Place in refrigerator for about 1 hr. Take 1/4 of dough, roll out on floured surface and use cookie cutters.

Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Optional: before you put cookies in oven, they may be decorated. Mix one egg yolk with a drop of milk and brush on the cookie to hold the decorations. Or you can decorate after baking with some powdered sugar mixed with a drop of water, makes a simple thin icing. My children's favorite, brushed with egg/milk, sprinkle with sugar, then bake. If you just brush with the egg/milk mixture and bake the top of the cookie is shiney. Or a sliver of almond on top.