Mazzaro Signature Cookies Recipes

MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and orange zest until fully combined.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the flour mixture gradually to the mixer until just incorporated. Fold in the chopped pecans by hand.
• Using a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop, portion the dough onto a baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
• Divide the chilled dough between 2 baking sheets, leaving about 1/2 inch between each cookie. Bake until just golden, about 12 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
• Once the cookies have cooled, place the powdered sugar into a shallow dish. Roll each cookie in the powdered sugar until completely coated. Enjoy!

LINZER COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse together flour and almonds in a food processor until the almonds are very finely ground. Add cinnamon, baking powder and salt, and pulse to blend. (Alternatively, whisk together flour, ground almonds or almond flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.)
• Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together on medium-high until the mixture is light, fluffy and pale, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract, and beat until everything is well combined, again stopping to scrape down bowl as necessary.
• Add in dry ingredients all at once and mix on low speed, just until incorporated.
• Divide dough in 2 equal pieces, and wrap each piece in cling film, patting into a 1-inch-thick disk. Chill at least 2 hours, up to 5 days ahead.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out the dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper so it's about 1/8 inch thick. (Because of the almonds, the dough may crack in places while you're rolling it out. This is O.K., just patch it up with scraps.)
• Using a round cookie cutter 2 1/2 inches in diameter, cut out as many circles as possible. Take half of these circles and cut out a 1-inch circle from the interior of the larger circles, creating a doughnut shape that will become the top of the cookie. If at any point the dough becomes too soft to cut and cleanly remove from parchment paper, slide it onto a cookie sheet and chill for a few minutes in the freezer or refrigerator. Gather any scraps of dough, combine them and roll them out, chilling as necessary. Transfer dough circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet spaced 1 inch apart and bake until the edges are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• To assemble the linzer cookies, spread about a teaspoon of raspberry jam onto the flat sides of the larger circles. Dust the tops of the cutout circles with powdered sugar and place on top of raspberry jam.

SPICY MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH CHORIZO SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook the pasta in salted, boiling salted water until al dente. Drain in a colander.
• Add the cherry tomatoes to a sheet tray, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, until visibly plump and softened.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Saute the chorizo in a saute pan until crisp. Remove.
• Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large saucepot over medium heat. Add flour, stirring for 1 minute. Whisk in the warmed milk and bring to a boil. Continue to whisk constantly. Stir while adding the mustard, hot sauce and Worcestershire. Stir in the cheese; reserving 1/2 cup for the topping. The mixture will thicken as the heat increases.
• Pour the drained pasta into the cheese sauce and mix well. Add to a 3-quart casserole dish. Add the chorizo and roasted cherry tomatoes. Top with reserved cheese and the fried onions. Bake for 35 minutes. Can be made ahead, covered and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before baking if refrigerated.

MAZZARO SIGNATURE COOKIES

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flours, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars in large bowl until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture and oats and stir until blended. Stir in walnuts, cranberries and raisins. Drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until edges are light brown, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool completely.

MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES

Steps:

• Place the butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat them with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. (This process is called creaming the butter and sugar.) Beat in the vanilla and water until combined.
• Sift in the flour and add the almonds. Beat on medium-high speed until ingredients are blended. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Shape the dough into bite-sized balls or crescents. Place the cookies on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the cookies from the baking sheet and let them sit for 5 minutes, or until they are cool enough to handle.
• Place the powdered sugar in a medium shallow bowl. Roll the cookies in the sugar until coated on all sides. Let the cookies cool completely.
• Roll the cookies again in powdered sugar once or twice more. Enjoy!

MAZZARO SIGNATURE 2

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flours, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until smooth. Add vanilla. Add flour mixture and oats and stir until blended. Stir in walnuts, cranberries and raisins. Drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until edges are light brown, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool completely.