Bake Happiness: Speedy Sand Tarts Recipe You’ll Adore
Sand tarts whisper tales of delicate indulgence in this timeless culinary treasure.
Buttery crumbs melt like silk across eager taste buds, revealing layers of subtle sweetness.
These ethereal cookies embody generations of baking wisdom, transforming simple ingredients into pure magic.
Crisp edges dance alongside tender centers, creating a textural masterpiece that enchants from first bite.
Generations of home bakers have perfected this delicate art, blending pure butter and fine sugar into a symphony of flavor.
Light as a feather and rich with tradition, these cookies carry the essence of comfort and connection.
One taste transports you to warm kitchen memories, promising a delightful journey through culinary nostalgia.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Calories: 180 kcal
Servings: 24
Ingredients for Sand Tarts from Joy of Cooking
For Base Ingredients:For Decoration and Topping:For Egg Wash:Tools for Making Sand Tarts Easy
Sand Tart Instructions with Old-School Charm
Grab softened butter and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until the mixture becomes cloud-like and airy, creating a smooth foundation for your delightful treats.
Gently fold in flour and eggs, stirring until a silky, uniform dough emerges. Work with care to ensure a perfect consistency that promises delectable results.
Wrap the dough snugly in plastic and let it rest in the refrigerator. This crucial pause allows flavors to mingle and the dough to become more cooperative.
Dust your work surface with a light flour coating. Grab a portion of chilled dough and roll it out paper-thin. Unleash your creativity with playful cookie cutters, pressing firmly to create whimsical shapes that will spark joy.
Craft a glossy egg wash by whisking an egg. Tenderly brush each cookie, then sprinkle with a magical dusting of cinnamon sugar or colorful sparkles that will make your treats irresistible.
Fire up the oven to a toasty 350°F. Slide in your cookie masterpieces and watch as they transform into golden-edged delights in just 6-8 minutes. Let the aroma of freshly baked cookies fill your kitchen with warmth and happiness.
Baking Tips for Perfect Texture
Presenting These Buttery Holiday Cookies
Keeping Tarts Crisp After Baking
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Crispy Sand Tarts Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
Sand tarts from Pennsylvania Dutch country offer a delicate, buttery cookie experience with a nutty cinnamon-sugar coating. Crisp edges and melt-in-mouth texture make you crave these classic holiday treats that connect generations of bakers.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (480 g) flour
- ½ lb (226 g) butter, 2 sticks, softened
- 4 eggs
- 1 box (3 ¾ cups or 450 g) 10x sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
- 1 egg for egg wash
Instructions
- Butter Blending: Whip softened butter and granulated sugar in a mixing bowl until achieving a cloud-like, airy texture, ensuring complete incorporation and smoothness.
- Dough Formation: Gradually fold all-purpose flour and eggs into the butter mixture, gently kneading until a uniform, silky dough emerges with no visible streaks or lumps.
- Dough Resting: Encase the prepared dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of one hour, allowing the ingredients to harmonize and the texture to solidify.
- Dough Rolling: Extract a softball-sized portion of chilled dough and place on a generously floured surface. Use a rolling pin to transform the dough into an ultra-thin sheet, almost translucent and delicate.
- Cookie Shaping: Employ cookie cutters to precisely extract intricate shapes from the rolled dough, ensuring crisp, well-defined edges and minimal waste.
- Decoration and Preparation: Arrange cut-out shapes on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving slight intervals between each cookie. Delicately brush with egg wash, then embellish with sparkling sugar crystals or cinnamon-sugar blend for enhanced flavor and visual appeal.
- Baking Process: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake cookies for 6-8 minutes, vigilantly monitoring until edges transform into a soft, golden hue, indicating perfect doneness.
Notes
- Chill for Success: Refrigerate dough for at least an hour to enhance flavor development and make rolling easier.
- Rolling Technique: Roll dough paper-thin for authentic, crisp sand tart texture; use minimal flour to prevent toughness.
- Egg Wash Magic: Brush cookies gently with egg wash to create a stunning golden sheen and professional bakery-like finish.
- Sugar Coating Pro Tip: Sprinkle sugar crystals or cinnamon sugar before baking for extra crunch and flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Michael Thompson
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.