Apricot Tarragon Cocktail Cookies Food

APRICOT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cream the butter and sugar in a medium size mixing bowl. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture. Cool dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• On a lightly floured surface roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut the dough into rounds with a round cookie cutter or glass. Using the tip of a teaspoon place a small drop of apricot preserves into the middle of the circle. Brush edges with water and fold the dough over so that the cookie is in the shape of a half moon; seal edges Arrange on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Dust the cookies with powdered sugar while still hot.

APRICOT TARRAGON COCKTAIL COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cover the apricots with hot water and let stand for 10 minutes, until they are plump. Transfer the apricots to paper towels to drain.
• In another small bowl, rub the tarragon leaves into the sugar until they are moist and aromatic. In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter with the tarragon sugar at low speed until creamy. Beat in the egg yolk until just combined, about 1 minute. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and beat until smooth. Add the salt and flour and beat until just incorporated. Using a large spatula, fold in the apricots.
• Turn the cookie dough out onto a work surface and knead until it just comes together. Divide the dough in half and press each half into a disk. Roll out each disk between 2 sheets of wax paper to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out cookies with a 1/2 inch cookie cutter, leaving the cookies in the disk. Slide the wax paper-covered disks onto a baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour, until very firm.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Press cookies out from disks, reserving leftover dough to re-roll for more cookies. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.
• Bake cookies for about 20 minutes until they are lightly golden; shift the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 3 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Cookies may be frozen.

APRICOT-TARRAGON ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine tarragon with milk and heavy cream and bring just to a simmer. Cover and let set for 1 hour. Combine yolks with the sugar and whisk until pale. Bring the cream back to a simmer and slowly pour the cream mixture into the yolks while stirring. Return the mixture to the pan and cook over low heat and continue stirring until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Strain, pour into a container and chill in an ice bath. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Romove from refrigerator and stir in apricot puree. Process in a an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions.

APRICOT-TARRAGON COCKTAIL COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cover the apricots with hot water and let stand for 10 minutes, until they are plump. Transfer the apricots to paper towels to drain. In another small bowl, rub the tarragon leaves into the sugar until they are moist and aromatic. In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter with the tarragon sugar at low speed until creamy. Beat in the egg yolk until just combined, about 1 minute. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and beat until smooth. Add the salt and flour and beat until just incorporated. Using a large spatula, fold in the apricots. Turn the cookie dough out onto a work surface and knead until it just comes together. Divide the dough in half and press each half into a disk. Roll out each disk between 2 sheets of wax paper to about 1/4 inch thick. Slide the wax paper-covered disks onto a baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour, until very firm. Preheat the oven to 350° and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Working with one piece of cookie dough at a time, peel off the top sheet of wax paper. Using a 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, stamp out the cookies as close together as possible. Arrange the cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies for about 20 minutes, until they are lightly golden; shift the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 3 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. MAKE AHEAD The rolled-out frozen cookie dough can be wrapped in plastic and kept frozen for 2 weeks. The baked cookies can be kept in an airtight container for up to 2 days.