Cacao Polenta Cookies Recipes

POLENTA COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix together the polenta, flour, baking powder and salt.
• In a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and yolk one by one, then add the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix until a firm dough forms.
• Divide the dough in half, place each piece onto a piece of parchment or wax paper, and shape the dough into a rough log about 2 inches in diameter, dusting with cornmeal as needed to prevent sticking. Roll up in the paper, twisting the ends to seal, and roll back and forth a few times to smooth out the shape. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. (At this point, the dough can be frozen for up to 2 months.)
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. With a sharp knife, cut the cookies into 1/2-inch slices, and place on the prepared cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake, rotating halfway through, until cookies are just golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Polenta cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

ITALIAN POLENTA COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together flour, polenta, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Put butter, sugar, and lemon zest in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Add egg and egg yolk, one at a time, beating after each addition to combine. Mix in vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture, and beat until just combined. Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip (such as Ateco No. 826).
• Pipe S shapes about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, spaced 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment. Bake cookies until edges are golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer cookies on parchment to wire racks; let cool about 10 minutes. Remove cookies from parchment, and transfer to racks to cool completely.

CACAO COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, cacao, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and cloves. In a large bowl, beat butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy, 4 to 6 minutes. Add vanilla; beat 30 seconds more.
• Scrape down sides of bowl, then add flour mixture; beat on low until a cohesive dough forms. Turn out onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Fold plastic over dough and form into a log about 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches long. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Using a sharp knife, slice dough into 1/2-inch-thick rounds, turning log slightly with each slice (this helps keep a round shape as you cut). Place rounds about 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until firm in center and slightly darker around edges, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks; let cool completely.
• Stir together confectioners' sugar and 2 tablespoons coconut milk in a small bowl until thick and pourable. (If glaze is too thick, add more coconut milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach desired consistency.) Hold a cookie over bowl and spoon glaze over half of it, letting excess drip back into bowl. Keep spooning glaze over cookie until it forms an even layer.
• Return cookie to rack and sprinkle with toasted coconut down center edge of glaze. Repeat with remaining cookies. Let stand until glaze sets, 1 to 2 hours. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.