Cornmeal Wreaths Food

CORNFLAKE CHRISTMAS WREATHS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Combine the marshmallows and butter in a large bowl and microwave on 50-percent power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until melted, about 1 minute 30 seconds.
• Stir in the vanilla and enough food coloring to make the mixture a deep green, 10 to 15 drops. Stir in the cornflakes until they are completely coated.
• Working with wet hands, form the mixture into twenty-four 2-inch balls. Flatten on the prepared baking sheets and poke a hole in the middle of each with your finger, molding the sides as needed to form a wreath shape. Decorate with the cinnamon candies to create holly berries. Form the red candy strips into a simple bow on each wreath. Sprinkle lightly with the white nonpareils for snow. Let set at room temperature to firm up, about 2 hours, or refrigerate 30 minutes.

OATMEAL SHORTBREAD WREATHS

Steps:

• Pulse the oats in a food processor until finely ground. Add the flour, brown sugar and salt and pulse. Add the butter and egg yolk and process until the dough comes together and no streaks of butter remain. Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pat into disks; wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Let the dough sit at room temperature about 5 minutes to soften slightly. Working with one piece at a time, roll out the dough on a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper until 1/4 inch thick; dust with more flour. (If the dough becomes too soft, refrigerate 15 minutes.) Cut out cookies with a 2 1/2-inch round cutter (preferably fluted), then cut out the centers with a 3/4-inch round cutter. Arrange the wreaths 1 inch apart on the prepared pans. Reroll the scraps and cut out more cookies.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are dry and firm on top and golden brown around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the pans. Lightly brush the tops with the maple syrup, then immediately sprinkle with the crushed raspberries and sanding sugar. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

CORNMEAL SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter. Add the powdered sugar and mix in. Add the vanilla extract and mix in. Add the dry ingredients and mix until blended.
• Roll into 1 1/2-inch logs and roll in cornmeal to coat. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least one hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Slice shortbread dough thinly and bake on a silpat or parchment paper for 12 to 15 minutes. The shortbread will still be blonde, and they will crisp once cool.

SEMOLINA WREATHS

Steps:

• Combine the all-purpose and semolina flours, sugar, anise seeds and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the seeds are mostly pulverized, about 3 minutes. Add the butter and pulse until it is in pea-size pieces. Add the egg yolk, honey, vanilla, and orange and lemon zests; pulse until the dough comes together into a smooth ball. Turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Pat into a disk, wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Let the dough soften slightly at room temperature, about 15 minutes. Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into 5-inch-long ropes, about 1/4 inch thick. Pinch the ends of each rope together to form a ring; arrange about 1 1/2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. (Return the dough to the refrigerator if it gets too soft.) Refrigerate the cookies until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Bake the cookies, switching the position of the pans halfway through, until golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet. Beat the egg white with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl; brush onto the cookies. Sprinkle with nonpareils, then return to the oven until set, 2 to 3 more minutes. Transfer to racks to cool completely.

CORNFLAKE WREATHS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and cook, stirring, until melted. Add the green food coloring and stir until evenly distributed. Remove from the heat, add the cornflakes and stir until well coated.
• Spray your hands with nonstick spray as needed during this step to ease in the shaping of the wreaths. Take 1/3 cup of the mixture and form an even log. Join the ends of the log together to form a wreath. Place the wreath onto one of the prepared baking sheets. Continue with the remaining cornflake mixture.
• Decorate each wreath with 3 small cinnamon candies. Let sit to firm before serving.

MEYER-LEMON SHORTBREAD WREATH COOKIES

Steps:

• Cookies: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter with zest on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in confectioners' sugar until pale and fluffy, about 1 minute more. Reduce speed to low. Beat in lemon juice and salt, then flour, until combined. Divide dough in half, transfer each to plastic wrap, pat into disks, wrap, and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 3 days (or freeze up to 1 month; thaw in refrigerator before using).
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Working with one disk at a time, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a scant 1/4 inch thick. Stamp out rounds with a 3-inch cutter, preferably fluted. Transfer to prepared sheets, 1 inch apart. Use a 1- to 1 1/4-inch plain round cutter to stamp out centers of 3-inch rounds. Gather scraps; roll out again, stamping out more wreaths. Repeat with remaining disk. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Bake, rotating sheets and rack positions halfway through, until set and pale golden on bottoms, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week before decorating.
• Glaze and Decorations: Brush herbs with egg white; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Transfer to wire rack; let stand until stiff and dry, at least 1 hour or, loosely covered, up to 1 day. In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and lemon juice until smooth. One at a time, dip cookie tops in glaze; lift and tilt slightly for a few seconds, allowing excess to drip back into bowl. Transfer to wire rack; decorate with sugared herbs and candies. Let stand until set, about 2 hours. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, between sheets of parchment, up to 2 days.