Iced Citrus Crackle Cookie Recipes

GIANT GINGERBREAD COOKIE

Steps:

• Make the cookie: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg until just combined. Mix in the molasses and vanilla. Reduce the speed to medium low and beat in the flour mixture until just combined.
• Turn out the dough onto the baking sheet. With lightly floured hands, press the dough into a 10-inch round, about 1/2 inch thick. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Uncover the dough. Bake until the cookie is slightly puffed and golden around the edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the pan, then slide the cookie (on the parchment) onto a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the icing: Whisk the confectioners' sugar and meringue powder in a large bowl. Add 4 tablespoons water and whisk until the mixture is smooth and stiff peaks form. Add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the icing is thin enough to pipe.
• Transfer the icing to a piping bag with a small star tip. Pipe a snowflake design on the cookie. Sprinkle with granulated sugar and let the icing set, about 30 minutes. Cut the cookie into wedges.

LEMON CRINKLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Beat sugar and butter together in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment until creamy. Beat in egg, vanilla extract, lemon extract, lemon zest and juice, and yellow food coloring. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix once more, making sure everything is combined. Add flour mixture and mix until just combined.
• Cover bowl and refrigerate cookie dough for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Scoop dough using a cookie scoop or spoon into roughly 1 1/2-inch rounds. Slightly flatten cookies to 1/2-inch thickness.
• Pour powdered sugar into a shallow bowl. Place flattened rounds in powdered sugar and cover until well coated. Remove with a fork or spoon and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are no longer glossy and have a matte look, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

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.

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.

AMARETTI COOKIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
• Whisk the almond flour, granulated sugar and salt in a large bowl to combine. Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 1 minute 30 seconds. Add the almond extract and beat to combine. Fold the egg whites into the dry ingredients using a rubber spatula until a shaggy dough forms.
• Put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl. Using a 1-tablespoon scoop, portion the dough and roll into balls. Toss each ball in the confectioners' sugar, coating thoroughly. Arrange the balls 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until golden brown and the tops crack, 23 to 25 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 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.

LEMON CRINKLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat 1 cup of the granulated sugar and the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer 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 lemon zest, lemon juice and food coloring if using and beat until incorporated. Reduce 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.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in another small bowl. Using a 1-tablespoon scoop, portion the dough and roll into balls. Toss each ball in the granulated sugar, then in the confectioners' sugar, coating it generously and thoroughly. Arrange the balls about 1 inch apart on the prepared 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 5 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.

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.