Knot Cookies Recipes

LOVE KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Fit 2 more baking sheets with a wire rack.
• For the dough: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the granulated sugar, sour cream and vegetable oil on medium-low speed. Add the egg, vanilla extract and lemon oil and mix until combined. On low speed, add in the flour and baking powder and mix until a dough forms.
• Remove the dough from the bowl onto a clean work surface dusted with flour. Knead until the dough forms a smooth ball. Using a bench scraper, cut the dough in quarters. Working with one quarter at a time, roll the dough into a snake about 1-inch thick. Using the bench scraper, cut the snake into 8 even pieces. Take one of the smaller pieces and roll into a snake again so that it is approximately 6 inches long. Knot the dough and place the prepared baking sheets with parchment. Repeat this process with the rest of the dough.
• Bake the love knots for 10 to 12 minutes; they should turn a light golden brown on the bottom and double in size. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
• For the glaze: While the cookies are cooling, put the powdered sugar into a large bowl. Add the milk a little at a time until you reach the proper consistency; you want the icing to coat a spoon. Once the proper consistency, add the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
• After the cookies have cooled completely, dip the entire cookie into the glaze. Hold the cookie over a bowl to allow excess glaze to run off and then place on the wire rack. Allow to dry for 30 seconds before sprinkling the tops with nonpareil sprinkles. Store the dried cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.

ICED ITALIAN KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
• Combine butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until smooth and creamy. Change to the dough hook and gradually mix in flour mixture. Add warm water and mix until a smooth dough forms.
• Roll dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Roll each ball out to a 4-inch long worm. Bring one end over the other, then underneath and through the middle, like a knot. Place 16 cookies on a baking sheet, four rows of four.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Repeat to bake remaining 2 batches of cookies.
• Meanwhile, mix powdered sugar, anise extract, and salt together in a bowl. Mix in water, a little at a time, until desired consistency.
• Dip cooled cookies upside down into the icing, then turn over onto waxed paper. Sprinkle with candy sprinkles.

KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
• Beat together butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes in a stand mixer or 4 minutes with a handheld, then beat in sour cream, eggs, and zest. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Form into a 2-inch-diameter log.
• Set smooth rollers of pasta machine at widest setting. Cut log crosswise into quarters and keep 3 pieces covered with a kitchen towel (not terry cloth). Flatten remaining piece of dough into a rectangle about 1/3 inch thick. Dust with flour. Feed through rollers. Fold in half crosswise and feed through rollers 8 more times, folding in half each time. Dust with flour if sticking.
• Turn dial to next (narrower) setting and feed dough through without folding. Continue to feed dough through without folding, making space between rollers narrower each time, until the second to last setting is used.
• Cut rolled-out dough into 5- by 2-inch rectangles. Make a 1-inch lengthwise slit in center of each rectangle. Pull one end of strip through slit, forming a loose knot. Transfer to a lightly floured baking sheet.
• Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until it registers 370°F on thermometer. Fry knots, 4 at a time, turning over once or twice, until golden, about 1 minute per batch. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Turn off heat under oil and roll out and form knots with remaining dough. Return oil to 370°F before frying rest of knots.
• Dust cooled cookies with confectioners sugar.

ITALIAN KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cream sugar, butter, margarine, milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract together in a large bowl. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating briefly after each addition.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add 1 cup at a time to the creamed mixture until a dough forms, using your hands if and when necessary. Turn out onto a floured board and knead briefly until smooth and a bit sticky, but not sticking to your hands. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
• Pull off small pieces of dough, 1 at a time, and roll into a rope. Gently place one end towards the middle, followed by the other end, in a way to slightly overlap each other. Repeat to form remaining cookies and place on the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven in batches until just turning a light brown on the bottom, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and allow to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile mix confectioners sugar, milk, and lemon juice together in a small bowl to form a thin glaze. Dip warm cookies in the glaze and sprinkle with sugar or sprinkles. Let set on waxed paper or a cooling rack to dry.

ITALIAN LEMON KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
• Cream sugar, butter, and shortening together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs. Beat in lemon extract. Add flour mixture gradually, beating well to combine. Wrap dough in waxed paper and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.
• Place the dough on a lightly-floured surface. Break off golf ball-sized pieces of dough. Roll each piece into a rope about 7 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter. Tie into a knot with one end poking up in the center. Place 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While cookies bake, combine confectioners' sugar, milk, and lemon extract in a bowl for icing until smooth.
• Transfer baked cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Spread icing evenly on top of the slightly warm cookies and add sprinkles.

FORGET-ME-NOTS (FORGOTTEN COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Do not grease.
• Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• Stir together salt and sugar then gradually beat into the beaten whites.
• Stir in vanilla and fold in the chocolate chips.
• Drop by mounded teaspoonfuls on the lined baking sheet and place in preheated oven. Immediately turn oven off. Let cookies dry over night. Resist peaking so as not to let out the heat.

OMA'S BERLINER KRANSER (GERMAN BUTTER KNOT COOKIES)

Steps:

• Beat butter for 30 seconds with a hand mixer or a stand mixer.
• Add powdered sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Beat in egg yolk and vanilla.
• Stir in the flour.
• Cover and chill dough for one hour.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Work with a small amount of dough at a time and keep the remainder chilled until needed.
• Using one tablespoon of dough for each cookie, roll into a 6 inch rope.
• Shape each rope into a wreath, then overlap the dough about 1 inch from the ends.
• Brush with the egg white and then sprinkle with the sugar.
• Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 15-17 minutes or until golden.
• Cool cookies for a minute on the pan and then remove to a wire rack.

KNOTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together eggs, sugar, vegetable oil and vanilla using an electric mixer on medium speed. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, Gradually stir into the mixture by hand using a large spoon. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead to make a soft elastic dough, about 5 minutes. Cover the dough and let rest at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. Break off small pieces of dough and roll into small ropes about 4 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. Twist the ropes into loose knots or braids. place them 1 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. When cool, frost with a simple confectioners' glaze.

CROSTOLI - KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl cut butter into flour till it resembles small peas.
• Combine eggs, sugar, almond& orange extracts and salt.
• Stir into flour mixture.
• Turn onto a floured board,knead until smooth.
• Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Divide dough into 2 equal parts.
• Roll each half into a 12X6 in rectangle.
• Cut into 6X3/4 inch strips.
• Carefully tie strips into knots.
• Fry a few at a time in deep fat (oil).
• (375 degrees) till golden brown (3minutes) flip once.
• Drain well.
• Cool and dust with powdered sugar.

PEANUT BUTTER & COOKIE KNOTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm buttermilk. In a large bowl, combine eggs, butter, sugar, salt, yeast mixture and 2 cups flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours., Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 16 portions. Roll each into 12x4-in. rectangle. Spread 1 rectangle with 1/4 cup peanut butter to within 1/2 in. of edges; sprinkle with 1/3 cup crushed Oreos. Top with another rectangle of dough. Pinch around edges to seal., Using a sharp knife, cut rectangle lengthwise in half; carefully turn each half cut side up. Loosely twist strips around each other, keeping cut surfaces facing up. Shape into a ring, pinching ends together to seal. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough, peanut butter and crushed Oreos. Cover with kitchen towels; let rise in a warm place until almost doubled, about 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Brush rolls with beaten egg. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool on pans on wire racks for 30 minutes., Combine confectioners' sugar and milk; drizzle over cooled rolls. Sprinkle with sea salt and, if desired, additional crushed Oreos.

CELTIC KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread anise and caraway seeds in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until fragrant, 5 to 8 minutes. Let cool completely. Coarsely grind toasted seeds with a mortar and pestle, or in a spice grinder.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together ground seeds, flour, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar on medium-high speed until well combined, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed, then beat in vanilla. Continue beating until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low and beat in flour mixture until just combined.
• Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead gently. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 1-inch-thick disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate overnight.
• To make knots, measure 1 heaping tablespoon of dough; roll into a ball. Transfer to a floured surface; roll into a rope about 12 inches in length and 3/8 inch in diameter. Shape rope into a trefoil design on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gently press dough at ends and at each intersection to adhere. Measure 1 scant tablespoon of dough; roll into a ball. Transfer to a floured surface; roll into a rope about 8 inches in length and 3/8 inch in diameter. Form into a circle about 3 inches in diameter, pinching ends to form a ring. Center ring on top of trefoil design and gently press to adhere. Repeat with remaining dough (4 to 6 cookies per sheet). Freeze until firm, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until lightly golden brown on edges, 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving, if desired.