Alien Cookie Surprise Recipes

ALIEN COOKIE POPS

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Carefully insert a 4-inch lollipop stick into the creme center of each sandwich cookie and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
• Add the white chocolate chips and coconut oil to a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds, then stir with a rubber spatula. Continue to microwave on high in 15-second intervals, stirring in between each, until just melted and the mixture is smooth. Vigorously stir in the food coloring until the desired color is achieved.
• Working carefully but quickly, hold a cookie by the lollipop stick, place over the bowl and use a small spoon or offset spatula to cover the cookie with the neon green chocolate. Transfer back to the baking sheet and immediately decorate with eyeballs. Repeat with the remaining cookies and neon green chocolate. Let the lollipops set for 30 minutes before serving.

BRIOCHE EN SURPRISE

Steps:

• Spread the rounds with mayonnaise. On half the slices place a very thin slice of raw onion, just the size of the round, and salt it well. Place another slice of brioche on top; roll the edges first in mayonnaise and then in finely chopped parsley.

AUNTIE KAREN'S FIREMAN SURPRISE

Steps:

• Fill a pot with water, add 2 teaspoons salt and set it to boil over medium-high heat. To make the spice mixture, in a small bowl, stir to combine the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, dried parsley and bouillon. Set aside.
• Add the penne to the boiling water and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot off of the heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of the olive oil, 2 teaspoons of the spice mixture and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
• In a large pan over medium to medium-high heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and once shimmering, add the meat to the pan with 1 tablespoon of the spice mixture. Stir in the onions and garlic and saute until the meat is browned and the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes to the meat mixture. Stir in the remaining seasoning mixture, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Season with 1 tablespoon of the fresh thyme, sage and rosemary. Cover and cook until the tomatoes have fully broken down, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the ricotta, egg and some salt and pepper. Season with the remaining 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, sage and rosemary. Mix until combined.
• In a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish, begin by adding one spoonful of meat sauce on the bottom. Next add some of the pasta, then some of the mozzarella and dollops of the ricotta mixture. Continue this pattern until the dish is full. Then dollop the remaining ricotta mixture on the top sporadically all over. Finish by adding the remaining mozzarella to the top.
• Bake until the cheese is melted and slightly browned on top, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with garlic bread.

ALIEN COOKIE SURPRISE

Steps:

• For the vanilla sugar cookies: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and granulated sugar until light, fluffy and blended. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined. Adjust the mixer to low speed; mix in the flour, 1 cup at a time, until well incorporated, and then the salt. Remove the dough from the mixer, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll out 1/8-inch thick on a lightly floured work surface with a lightly floured rolling pin. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Use an oval cookie cutter to cut out 24 cookies, placing 12 of the cookies on the prepared baking sheet. Top each of the cookies on the baking sheet with 1/2 teaspoon of the chocolate chips, then top each with a second oval-shaped piece of cookie dough, pressing the edges to seal. Bake until the cookies are beginning to brown around the edges, 8 to 12 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• For the cinnamon-cream cheese-bourbon jelly: Meanwhile, place the gelatin powder in a small bowl and stir in the water until the gelatin is dissolved. Let sit for 5 minutes, then add the bourbon and mix until combined.
• Place the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix well with a hand-held blender.
• Add the cream cheese and mix until the mixture has a nice and creamy consistency. Add the gelatin mixture and mix until well combined.
• Pour into an 8-inch square pan and refrigerate until the jelly is set and completely firm to the touch, about 1 hour. With the oval cutter, cut out 12 pieces of the jelly and place on top of the sugar cookies.
• For the rosemary bonbons: Fill a pastry bag with the melted dark chocolate disc. Pipe the chocolate into the shell chocolate mold; tap the mold to remove any air bubbles. Flip the mold over, tap out any excess chocolate, and then scrape the top of the mold to remove any excess chocolate. Refrigerate the mold until the chocolate is hard, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the granulated sugar and glucose syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves and turns into a light caramel. Add the heavy cream and rosemary and cook until the caramel comes to a boil; remove from the heat and let the mixture cool. Strain the caramel through a fine-mesh sieve, add the melted milk chocolate and butter, and blend with a hand-held blender. Spoon the caramel mixture into a pastry bag and fill the remainder of the cavities on the chocolate mold. Place the mold in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, then top off with another layer of dark chocolate. Let sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, then release the chocolates from the mold.
• For the royal icing: Mix together the meringue powder and water in a bowl. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Adjust the consistency with more water as needed. Divide the icing between 2 bowls. Add the green food coloring to 1 bowl and the black to the other; mix well. Fill 2 pastry bags with the icings.
• Decorate the bonbons with alien expressions and use the icing to adhere one bonbon to the top of each cookie. Let set before serving, 15 minutes.