Cookie #25

The last cookie on the list is not another recipe. It’s more of a philosophy. The best cookie of all is the one that you make with love and share with your friends and family. They can be made together, or they can be given as gifts. However you choose to share them, the point is that they were made with love. No one would deny, that anytime you can handcraft a gift, it just means that much more.

As a special gift, I am going to share my cookie-making and pastry tips. While there may not be a new recipe, these hacks are sure to make your baking experience easier and more enjoyable.

Tip #1:

When I make any kind of bark, I use this method to insure that the toppings are pressed into the melted chocolate. This is an easy hack to create an even layer across the surface of the bark. It’s not necessary, but if you are going to packing the bark after cutting, it makes it easier to stack the pieces.

I place a clean sheet of parchment over the top of the bark. I then take an additional sheet pan and use it to press the toppings into the chocolate. After pressing the bark, I rest my rolling pin across the surface of the top sheet pan to weigh it down while the chocolate sets.

After it is set, you can easily peel off the top parchment without taking the toppings. You can then break up or cut the bark into even pieces. Bark recipes are really cute when wrapped in a decorative tin or even a mason jars with holiday fabric cut to fit under the lid.

Tip #2:

Growing up, every time I made a cookie recipe that required rolling out, I would have a final product that tasted heavily of flour. Well with time and age comes wisdom, I have learned how to do this task and not make the cookies taste like biting into a sack of flour.

When I roll out cookies these days, I do a 50: 50 combination of flour and granulated sugar. It allows the cookie to roll out with ease and doesn’t alter the flavor of the final product. The sugar actually adds a little extra crunch to the finished cookie.

Tip #3:

I know I have explained this in recipes of yore, but it may be one of my favorite tricks. It works in a ton of pastry recipes aside from cookies. This tip allows you to have equally portioned and beautifully rounded cookies every time.

Use a measuring cup or glass filled with hot water and a small ice cream scoop or cookie scoop. Submerge the scoop in the water for 30 seconds in order to heat it. Tap off the excess water from the scoop and start portioning things out. Periodically, soak the scoop again. This will heat it as well as clear the extra dough off of the scoop.

Tip #4:

This one is probably one that is so obvious; that you never really think to do it. When I’m baking several recipes which require a sifter, I usually have to wash the sifter because I’m sifting cocoa in one recipe but not the other. So, what I do is place it in the oven for a few minutes after washing. This will dry it out and after a couple of minutes out of the oven, it will be ready to use.

This hack has dual functionality. When I’m finished baking and the dishes are all washed and the oven is cooling down, I place my cookie cutter and the sifter onto a sheet pan. That sheet pan and its contents then go into the oven as it cools back down. This dries the cutters and sifter, that is a no-brainer. However, this serves another very important purpose.

Traditional cookie cutters have a tendency to rust when exposed to moisture or high humidity. This keeps the water from setting into nooks and crannies and rusting. You can then store them in an air tight container with a little baking soda. It helps keep the humidity out.

Tip #5:

This one will save you a lot of mess and cleaning. You’re Welcome! When filling a piping bag, place the bag into a tall glass tip down. Pull the open end over the rim of the glass and begin filling. This will make it super easy and struggle-free. Twist the end and create an edible masterpiece.

I hope you all enjoy these tips and tricks. I hope they making your baking experience more enjoyable and just a little easier. I know they have worked time and time again for me. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!