Homemade Gelt Food

HOMEMADE GELT

Steps:

• Brush miniature muffin cups lightly with oil. Pour about 1 teaspoons melted chocolate into each cup and bang on counter. Sprinkle with almonds. Refrigerate until set. Remove from muffin cups and blot off any excess oil, if needed.

GELT COOKIES

Steps:

• Roll the sugar cookie dough into about 16 balls. Sprinkle granulated sugar on a work surface and roll the balls in the sugar.
• Bake the cookies as directed. Transfer the pan to a rack. While the cookies are still warm, press a chocolate coin into each. Let cool completely.

HAZELNUT GELT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, ground hazelnuts, baking powder, and salt and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugars, and orange zest on medium high until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each, and then add the vanilla.
• Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until blended. At this point you can wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour, or up to two days, or you can get going on rolling out your dough and cutting out your cookies immediately.
• When ready to bake, set an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
• Working with half of the dough at a time, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness that's just under 1/2-inch-thick. Cut out 2 1/2-inch circles with a biscuit cutter and then transfer to a baking sheet, 1-inch apart. Re-roll scraps and cut out more shapes. Bake until they're lightly browned on the bottom; begin checking for doneness at 12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Spoon a teaspoon of chocolate onto the top of each cookie, and spread it around with a spoon into a little Gelt-sized circle. Top with sprinkles and let set in the fridge or at room temperature. Enjoy!
• To make the gelt, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a microwavable bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each. Melt until it's just smooth and then remove from heat.

HOMEMADE GELT

Steps:

• Brush a 12-cup mini muffin tin with safflower oil. Using a microwave, melt dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl in 10-second increments, stirring in between. Divide melted chocolate evenly among prepared muffin cups. Top with cacao nibs, orange zest or candied ginger, as desired. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Using an offset spatula, remove the chocolates; blot any excess oil. Wrap in gold or silver candy papers (available at papermart.com). Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

HOMEMADE HANUKKAH GELT

Steps:

• Brush a 24-cup mini muffin pan or two 12-cup mini muffin tins (preferably nonstick) with oil.
• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until completely melted and smooth, about 90 seconds.
• Divide the melted chocolate evenly among the cups of the prepared muffin tin, about 1 3/4 teaspoons per muffin cup. (You can also use a pastry bag for this part.) Tap the muffin tin against the counter to remove any air bubbles and even out the chocolate.
• Top with gold sprinkles and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Use an offset spatula to remove the chocolate from the tin.

MOLDED RASPBERRY GELATIN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in ice cream and orange juice until blended. Fold in bananas and pineapple. Spoon into a 6-cup mold coated with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate until firm. Unmold gelatin onto a serving platter.