I made these cookies several weeks ago for a cookie exchange.
Also, I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of sewing a little bit. The sewing room is pretty cold, so it’s not particularly inviting during these dark and cold winter days, but what can you do. If I’m to attain my goal of being more productive in 2008, I will have to brave the cold temps and sew away.
Recipe next …
Peppermint Spiral Cookies from sfgate.com
Makes about 3 dozen (mine didn’t make 3 dozen)
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups unsifted cake flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup unsifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1/4 teaspoon flaming red liquid gel food coloring or 9 drops red liquid food coloring
1 tablespoon unsifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups multi-colored nonpareil decors
INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugars in a food processor and process briefly to mix. Add the butter in pieces; process with on/off bursts until the mixture has the consistency of cornmeal. Add the vanilla and process until the mixture just forms a ball. (I didn’t really process long enough. My mixture would not really form a ball, so I ended up having to add more butter later.)
Divide the dough into 2 equal portions then return one of the portions to the food processor. Add the peppermint extract, food coloring, and the extra tablespoon of flour to the processor and process until just incorporated.
Roll out each portion of dough between sheets of waxed paper. You want a rectangle about 11 x 8 1/2 inches by 1/8 inch thick. Leave the dough between the sheets of waxed paper and slide onto a baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.
Remove dough pieces from refrigerator. Pour the nonpareil decors into a shallow rectangular dish (such as a 9 x 13-inch pan.
Peel off the top sheet of waxed paper from both doughs. Brush the vanilla dough very lightly with water. Using the waxed paper, lift the peppermint dough and flip it onto the vanilla dough so they are stacked. Press with your fingertips to seal the two doughs together. Remove the top sheet of waxed paper and trim the edges even.
When the dough is just pliable (but still cold), roll up the dough rectangles (begin with the long side) like a jellyroll. As you begin to roll, gently curl the edge with your fingertips so you don’t get any air pockets as you roll dough into a log. As you roll, lift the waxed paper to help you roll the dough neatly and tightly.
After forming the dough into a log, throw away the waxed paper, and roll the dough back and forth on the work surface to evenly distribute the dough and form a nice little log. Gently lift the log on top of the nonpareil decors in the dish and roll until the log is completely coated with decors. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm enough to slice (from 4 hours to a week, or freeze for up to 2 months; defrost in the refrigerator overnight before slicing).
Adjust rack to lower third of oven and preheat oven to 325
Love the mitt and the spiral cookies. What a great idea. Glad you’re back to the old sewing room. Can’t wait to see some new creations.
Love the mitt and the spiral cookies. What a great idea. Glad you’re back to the old sewing room. Can’t wait to see some new creations.
The cookies are so pretty! I’m going to keep these in mind for next year’s cookie plates.
Why don’t you knock off a few of the mitts now to get back in the swing of sewing? Then you’ll have them finished and ready to give with next year’s food gifts.
I bought a second hand sewing machine this fall, then I broke a knob off the first day I had it. D’oh! So my goal next week is to finally call someone about getting it repaired and serviced. I am looking forward to making my own stuff.
Could you get a little space heater for the sewing room? Despite the freezing temperatures outside, my apartment rarely gets cold and I rarely turn on the heat.
You can also find a recipe for spiral icebox cookies like that at Martha Stewart’s website. They’re pretty good, though I would add a little more vanilla or almond extract.
Those are cute cookies! They remind me of that uzumake fish cake we put in our soup last night!
That mitt color combo – excellent. And from experience I can say that those portable radiator looking heaters work well. I drag one around with me to every room in our drafty old house. Even so, nothing really keeps your hands warm when you’re sewin and there’s draft. Maybe that’s why people wear those fingerless gloves!
I swear to GAWD, you’d better make those cookies for me the next time I’m up there! How gorgeous they are! Maybe we should challenge one another to “no sugar” in 2008. Oh yeah, you are looking for realistic resolutions 🙂
The cookies look so cheerful! I want one.
hi mariko. I am just popping in to say Happy new year…and hope that this one is better than the last one.
the year of the rat!!! akemashite omedeto gozaimasu!!!!!! kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
To take the chill off the room, try an oil-filled radiator type heater. They have wheels, so are easy to move around. They tend to heat a smaller space rather than the whole room. And make a floor pillow (like Deedle’s) for your feet to rest on.
Really looking forward to seeing more sewing from you. You always find the neastest fabrics. Can we see a pic of your stash some time?
How’s your mom doing? sending good thoughts her way.
Happy new year! Those cookies are downright adorable. Here’s to braving cold home temperatures for the sake of sewing.