I’m not sure where the name ‘sand cookies’ comes from, but my mum used to bake these cookies when I was little; I remember sitting on the kitchen counter helping her decorate the cookies with almonds and raisins… and making sure the dough was tasty, of course!

Yesterday I tried making them with my kids and it was a hit.  The recipe is quick and simple and the cookies just need 15 minutes in the oven, so you get fast results which is always a good thing when cooking with kids.  They’re tasty too and don’t require a lot of sugar.

Here’s the recipe:

• 250 grams flour
• 1 bag of vanilla sugar (or a teaspoon of essence)
• 100 grams sugar
• 125 grams butter
• 1 egg

Mix all ingredients in a bowl (I used the hand mixer first and then kneaded the dough with my hands).  Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface, about ¼ inch or ½ cm thick.  Cut into shapes and decorate with walnuts, almonds and raisins.  Brush with some beaten egg to give a nice shine to the cookies.
You can also use my mum’s technique: roll the dough into a thick sausage (about 5 cm / 2″ diameter), put it in the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes and slice cookies from the sausage, about ¼ inch or ½ cm thick.  Decorate with almonds, walnuts and raisins and brush with egg.
The cookies need 15 minutes in a medium hot oven (200° C or 400° F).

Enjoy!

xxx Esther

PS  For an easy-to-print PDF of this recipe, click here.