Saturday, October 23, 2010

Twelve Weeks Of Christmas Cookies: Week Four

Vanilla is probably one of my favourite flavourings.  I add it to almost all my baking, my protein shakes and smoothies; I love the stuff!  I always try and buy good quality vanilla extract, either in the form of a vanilla bean paste (which is quite potent!) or good organic liquid extract.  It's no surprise to me that I wanted to make a vanilla cookie.  I used a vanilla bean paste with this recipe so I could actually see the little vanilla bean seeds in the cookies.  The brandy frosting is pretty strong, but just a little drizzled on the cookie gives it a nice flavour boost. Brandy always reminds me of Christmas.  Onward to the recipe!

Brandy Frosted Vanilla Cookies 
Cookies
150g unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup caster sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups flour

Frosting
1 1/2 cups icing/confectioners sugar
2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp brandy
water

In a clean bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Crack in the egg and add vanilla extract then beat until smooth. Sift in the flour and mix until well combined.With your hands (or a mixer if you have one) kneed the dough then place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.  Heat oven to 350F.  Roll dough into about 1 1/4 inch balls and then flatten slightly.  Repeat until dough is gone.  Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool before frosting.

To make the frosting, add all ingredients in a clean bowl until mixed.  Add water until you reach your desired consistency, I used about 1 Tbsp.  Drizzle onto the cookies and decorate with sprinkles or cachous if desired.




This is what everyone else baked for Week Four:

8 comments:

  1. yum!!! those look awesome! and so pretty!

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  2. I love how the recipes says "in a clean bowl". Is this opposed to a dirty bowl? These sound yummy. I love vanilla too.

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  3. Love the use of the vanilla bean! Your cookies look great, and so festive with the added decorations:)

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  4. Haha Lyn. It's habit I guess LOL. But you never know some people!!!

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  5. These cookies look great. The silver dragees are a nice touch.

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  6. These are wonderful! I love the little silver decorations too. I am a big vanilla lover too :-)

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  7. i think the brandy frosting is the highlight of these cookies. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Hi,

    The cookies are scrumptuous...:)Yumm...

    Dr.Sameeena@

    www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

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