Showing posts with label christmas cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas cookies. Show all posts

Empire Biscuits

Baking Christmas cookies is a tradition among so many families. One cookie I look forward to every year is my Scottish grandmother's empire biscuits. No Christmas would be complete with out these perfect little sandwich cookies. The dough is similar to shortbread, but when they are filled with seedless raspberry jam and covered in a sweet confectioners glaze they literally melt in your mouth! A candied cherry tops the cookies giving them a festive look, perfect for adding your Christmas cookie trays! We are excited to share this recipe with you and hope you will try them to share with your friends and family!




Empire Biscuits 
2 cups sifted flour 
1/2 cup sugar 
1 cup butter 

seedless raspberry jam 
confectioners sugar 
milk 
candied cherry 

Mix flour with sugar and cut in butter 
Knead lightly, roll into a ball, cover in plastic wrap and put in refrigerator
Chill for 2 hours {or overnight} 
Take out 1 hour prior to baking 
Roll out on a floured surface to about 1/8-1/4"
Cut into rounds the size of your choice 
Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned  {350 degrees}

When cookies are cooled, spread seedless raspberry jam and 1 cookie and top with the another
Mix about a cup of confectioners sugar with enough milk to make a spreadable glaze {a couple of tablespoons} don't let the glaze get too thin, you can adjust your milk or sugar 
Put glaze over the top of the sandwiched cookie, don't worry if this runs down the side it does not have to be perfect
Before your glaze dried out a 1/2 of a candied cherry on top 
These can be kept in a tin for up to a week, they taste the best the next day as it gives the glaze time to soak into the cookies. ENJOY! 







Icy Winter Marshmallows

Have you ever tried a homemade marshmallow!? You will never ever want a store bought one again, after you do! They are literally heavenly! Sugary and sweet melt in your mouth pillowy confections is the only way that we can describe them! They are so versatile and combine with so many flavors perfectly....peppermint, chocolate, almond, vanilla, you name it, its amazing! We love Martha Stewart's recipe, its easy to follow and makes a great homemade marshmallow. Instead of rolling them in confectioners sugar we roll them in course sugar to give them an icy, glisteny look, perfect for the winter months! These would make a great gift with a mug and some homemade hot chocolate mix!




Photos via Icing Designs
Recipe via Martha Stewart  {altered slighty for course sugar coating}
Vegetable oil, for brushing
4 envelopes unflavored gelatin (3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons)
3 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Large bottle of course sugar {found at any craft store in the baking isle}

Brush a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with oil. Line with parchment, allowing a 2-inch overhang on the long sides. Brush parchment with oil; set aside.

Put granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 3/4 cup water into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cook, without stirring, until mixture registers 238 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 9 minutes.

Meanwhile, put 3/4 cup cold water into the bowl of an electric mixer; sprinkle with gelatin. Let soften 5 minutes.

Attach bowl with gelatin to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. With mixer on low speed, beat hot syrup into gelatin mixture. Gradually raise speed to high; beat until mixture is very stiff, about 12 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Pour into prepared dish, and smooth with an offset spatula. Set aside, uncovered, until firm, about 3 hours. {Note: do not overmix, or the marshmallows will be stiff}

Sprinkle a little bit of your course sugar onto your course sugar on to your workspace. Unmold marshmallow onto sugar; remove parchment. Lightly brush a sharp knife with oil, then cut marshmallow into 2-inch squares. Put remaining course sugar into a small bowl, and roll each marshmallow in the sugar to coat. Marshmallows can be stored in an airtight container up to 3 days.


Pinterest Party Featuring Cookie Exchange Ideas

If you are anything like us you are addicted to Pinterest! Well, Kim, from The Tomkat Studio and Kelly, from The Party Dress have been hosting a series of pinning parties featuring" holiday entertaining ideas"! The boards are filled with festive ideas, from Kim and Kelly and a host of fabulous bloggers, sure to keep your holidays merry and bright! Tomorrow we will be helping to create a board filled with sweet ideas for a "holiday cookie exchange"! We are so excited to be part of this and have come up with some great ideas to share with you! We hope you will join us, along with all of the amazing bloggers listed below, tomorrow night, December 4th at 9pm EST/6pm PST to get some cookie inspiration!   





 
Blogging tips