Royal Dansk cookies are a Danish brand of butter cookies sold in the distinctive blue round tin, famous for being reused in many households for sewing supplies and other small items. They are known for a rich buttery taste and a small set of classic shapes such as the pretzel, vanilla ring, rectangular “Finnish” style cookie, and a couple of round styles, all made to highlight butter and a light sweetness.

Brand and ownership

Royal Dansk began in 1966 in Helsingør, Denmark, originally as a company focused on traditional Danish butter cookies packed in tins to preserve freshness. The brand now belongs to Ferrero (through its ownership of the Kelsen Group), which acquired it in 2019 while continuing to market it as a heritage Danish product.

Signature blue tin

The cookies are most associated with the royal blue metal tin that typically shows a Danish farmhouse and contains paper cups holding the different cookie shapes. This tin is widely reused for storage (especially sewing items), which has become part of the brand’s cultural identity and a common joke in many countries.

Cookie varieties and shapes

The classic assortment usually includes five shapes: a pretzel-shaped cookie with crystallized sugar, a ring-shaped vanilla cookie, a rectangular cookie often called “Finnish bread,” and two different round “country” or coconut- style cookies. While the textures and shapes differ, many people describe the overall flavor profile as buttery and mildly sweet, with slight variations like added vanilla or coconut.

Availability and uses

Royal Dansk tins are commonly sold worldwide, especially around holidays, through major retailers and online stores in various sizes (for example, around 12–24 oz tins marketed for gifting and sharing). People often serve them as simple tea or coffee cookies, give them as seasonal gifts, or keep a tin at home as a long-lasting pantry treat.