scandinavian snowflake cookies

Ingredients

• Servings: 32
• 2 cups milk
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 3 cups vegetable oil for frying
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar, or as needed

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ready Time: 3 hrs 20 mins


• line baking sheets with waxed paper or parchment paper, and sprinkle with flour.
• heat the milk just to the boiling point in a saucepan. stir together the flour, baking powder, and sugar in a bowl until well combined, then mix in the butter and gradually pour in the hot milk, mixing between each addition, until the mixture forms a stiff dough.
• turn the dough out an oiled work surface, and knead until the dough is cool and smooth, about 5 minutes. cut the dough into 4 equal-sized pieces, then cut those pieces into 4 pieces, making 16 pieces. divide each of the 16 pieces in half to make 32 equal-sized pieces of dough. cover the pieces with a cloth, and let the dough rest for about 20 minutes.
• working on a floured surface, roll each piece of dough out into a thin circle about 8 inches in diameter. place the circles the prepared baking sheets, cover with a cloth, and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
• fold each circle in half, then in half again. with a sharp knife or small cookie cutters, snip and cut shapes out of the folded dough the way you make a paper snowflake. carefully open the circle back up, revealing the pattern. stack the cut snowflakes between sheets of waxed paper on a flat surface.
• heat oil in a deep skillet to 375 degrees f (190 degrees c). the oil should be about 2 inches deep.
• carefully lay a snowflake into the hot oil, keeping it flat. allow it to fry until golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute per side. gently flip the snowflakes over with a tongs to prevent breakage. drain the fried snowflakes on paper towels, and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.