Iced Citrus Crackle Cookies Food

CITRUS CRINKLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Combine the butter, brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, about 2 minutes.
• Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Add the vanilla extract, citrus zest, citrus juice and food coloring and beat until incorporated. Decrease the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture, beating until just combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in another small bowl. Scoop tablespoons of the chilled dough and roll into balls. Toss each ball in the granulated sugar first, then in the confectioners' sugar, coating them very generously and thoroughly. Arrange the balls about 1 inch apart on 2 baking sheets (you should have 24 balls). Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Position the oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Bake until the cookies spread, the tops crack and the edges are firm, 14 to 16 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

RED VELVET CRACKLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Put the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Whisk the eggs, vegetable oil and food coloring in a large bowl; whisk in the granulated sugar and melted white chocolate until smooth. Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture with a wooden spoon until combined. Transfer the dough to a piece of plastic wrap and pat into a rectangle; tightly wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Put the confectioners' sugar in a bowl. Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls; toss the balls in the confectioners' sugar to coat. Slightly flatten the balls, then dip again in the confectioners' sugar. Arrange the cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are puffed and firm, 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheets.

MUG COOKIE

Steps:

• Microwave the butter on high in a small microwave-safe mug until melted, 20 to 35 seconds. Tilt the mug so that the butter greases the sides. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract and egg yolk and mix with a fork until combined. Add the flour and salt and mix until just combined, then fold in the desired mix-ins. Top with the sea salt, if using. Microwave on high until the cookie is puffed and springs back when gently pressed, 60 to 75 seconds. Let sit for 1 minute before serving warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CRINKLE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Mix the cocoa, caster sugar and oil together. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking until fully combined.
• Stir the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt together in a separate bowl, then add to the cocoa mixture and mix until a soft dough forms. If it feels soft, transfer to the fridge and chill for 1 hr. Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Tip the icing sugar into a shallow dish. Form a heaped teaspoon of the dough into a ball, then roll in the sugar to coat. Repeat with the remaining dough, then put, evenly spaced, on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.
• Bake in the centre of the oven for 10 mins - they will firm up as they cool. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool. Will keep for four days in a biscuit tin.

SNOWY CHOCOLATE CRACKLE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (make sure the base doesn't touch the water), or in a microwave in short bursts. Set aside to cool.
• Beat the butter and sugar using electric beaters, then beat in the eggs, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and chocolate. Pour in the milk to make a soft dough, but don't overmix it. Cover and chill for 1 hr.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line one or two baking sheets with parchment. Put the icing sugar in a bowl. Scoop heaped tablespoons of dough and roll each ball in your hands before dropping it into the icing sugar and rolling it around. Put on baking sheets and repeat, spacing the balls apart.
• Bake for about 12-15 mins until the biscuits feel firm when touched. The biscuits should puff up and cracks should open up, too. Leave to cool on the trays, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Will keep for up to a week in an airtight container.

ICED CITRUS CRACKLY COOKIES

Steps:

• Evenly space the oven racks in the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F on the convection setting, if available. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
• Beat the butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high until smooth. Add the sugar and citrus zest and continue to beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. (The creaming is important to get a great texture, so don't skimp here.) Add the yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the extracts.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing at low speed to make a soft dough.
• Scoop the dough into rounded heaping tablespoons with a cookie scoop or measuring spoon. Space the cookies about 2-inches apart on the prepared pans. Freeze for at least 30 minutes. (The cookies can be frozen for up to 1 month.).
• Bake the cookies, straight from the freezer, until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned, 15 to 17 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• For icing: Mix the confectioners' sugar, colored sugar and appropriate flavored zest in a medium bowl. Add the citrus juice and mix with an electric mixer to make a firm but pourable icing. (If needed, add up to 1 teaspoon more juice, but take care that if the icing is too loose it won't set.) Dip the rounded side of the cooled cookies into the icing, then let the excess icing fall back into the bowl. Dry cookies icing side up on a rack. Serve.
• Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

CHRISTMAS CRINKLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix the cocoa, caster sugar and oil together. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking until fully combined.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, orange zest, mixed spice, cinnamon and a pinch of salt in a separate bowl, then add to the cocoa mixture and mix until a soft dough forms. If it feels too soft, put in the fridge to chill for 1 hr.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and tip the icing sugar into a shallow dish. Roll heaped teaspoons of the dough into balls (about 20g each), then roll in the icing sugar to coat. Put the balls on one large or two medium baking trays lined with baking parchment, ensuring they're evenly spaced apart.
• Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool - they will firm up as they cool, but still be fudgy in the centre. Will keep for up to four days in an airtight container.