Step 1

Mix the dry ingredients including flour, powdered sugar, vanilla sugar baking powder, and salt.

Step 2

Chop the cold butter into cubes and add it to the dry ingredients. Crumble the mixture with your hands (or a stand mixer) until it forms small crumbs, like coarse sand.

Step 3

Beat the egg in a separate bowl for about 30 seconds, and then add it to the butter/flour mixture. Mix until the dough comes together, but don't overwork.

Step 4

Roll the dough into a log, wrap and place in the fridge for about an hour.

Step 5

Preheat the oven to 350.

Step 6

Remove from the refrigerator, slice off small sections of dough and roll them into small balls in your hands (about 1 1/4 inches in diameter).

Step 7

Place the dough balls on a prepared cookie sheet and flatten with a fork, the bottom of a glass or your palm.

Step 8

Brush with egg white and sprinkle pearl sugar or slivered almonds on top.

Step 9

Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes, until the bottom is very slightly brown. Do not over bake.

Step 10

Remove from the oven and cool completely before storing.