I have been drowning in food for the past five weeks. I am almost in the home stretch of writing a cookbook as far as recipe development, testing, writing and shooting is concerned. I have gone through nearly 120 recipes in that five week period, sometimes cooking them twice and even thrice. And I developed some new recipes for a client. So it feels nice to pick up a random magazine for a change and just cook something that appeals without having to worry about perfecting the recipe and marrying flavours to enhance the taste. I think I have earned it with these orange crackle cookies. These cookies are almost like a crispy cake with a gorgeous chewy crunch on the outside and a soft cake like texture on the inside. You basically make the cookie dough and roll it in a plate of icing sugar. Once the cookie bakes, the icing sugar spreads and gets that beautiful crackle texture. They are delicious and perfect with a creamy cup of coffee or hot chocolate.
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ORANGE AND RICOTTA CRACKLE COOKIES
A citrus scented cookie rolled through icing sugar to get the famous crackle cookie effect becomes a delightful afternoon treat. Inspired by the ricotta spiked Italian biscuits.
Makes - 20
Ingredients
125g butter, softened
3/4 cup caster sugar
finely grated rind of 1 large orange
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
200g fresh smooth ricotta
2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
1 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
Method
Place butter, caster sugar, orange rind and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Beat with an electric beater until pale and smooth. Beat in the eggs.
Add the ricotta and mix well with a wooden spoon. Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix gently with a wooden spoon until it forms a dough. Add the orange juice and using your hands bring the dough together. Cover bowl with clingwrap and refrigerate for one hour.
Pre-heat oven to 180C. Grease and line two large baking sheets with baking paper. Roll a tablespoon of the cookie dough into a ball. Repeat with all the cookie dough. Roll each ball in the icing sugar to coat evenly. Place balls on the prepared tray about 5cm apart. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes until golden and crackled.
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Can I freeze the dough? Also once baked, how many days do the cookies last?
I was looking for a perfect Christmas present for my son's playgroup teachers and Xmas party, will be making these today!
I can almost smell the citrus flavor in these cookies. Loved it!!!
Cool pictures, I love the darkness!
I've got a cuppa, are you coming over? Bring cookies. 🙂
These look terrific.
I have been watching your instagram account and all the gorgeous little tid bit shots that you have been taking as you have slowly progressed along in your cookbook. I am super excited to see the end result - and these cookies look pretty good too!
I agree with you 100% that sometimes just to make something random without worrying of fixibg it or developing new flavors feels soo good... And for sure these look fantastic...
I know how much work must be sorrounding you... but we can't wait to see your beautiful book... im the end all this hard work is going to be completely worth it.
Great recipe Sneh, made these this morning and finding it hard to resist 'just one more'... Substituted Mandarin zest etc for the orange and aso replaced some of the juice with Grand Marnier ( why not?). Ended up making a lot more than 20, not that I am complaining.
Now for more recipes to use up the remainder of the Ricotta, as a 1kg bowl of it was on special in Fruit market! Thanks again for sharing your lovely recipes.
120 recipes in just five weeks is a seriously impressive effort - you are a machine! 🙂
These bikkies sound lovely. I love using ricotta in baking, it always results in such a great texture.
Lovely lovely photos - I could do with one of those now 🙂
Yum! I just love simple recipes like this!
http://liveitinerantly.com/
Sneh,
Another gorgeous recipe. The way you capture the flavour through your photography is inspirational! Love it! Thanks 🙂
Sneh, you got me at the ricotta... These look lovely! Bookmarked!
Wow 120 recipes in 5 weeks, you are a machine!!
Awesome looking biscuits, I will definitely be making these!
These cookies are certainly part of a "have a rest" party. 🙂
Beautiful crackle cookies, Sneh!! Good luck on completing the book -- you are so close!! Yay 🙂
My dad would love these spiced with one cocoa...
Beautiful, Sneh. And you're doing an amazing job tearing through those recipes for your book! What an effort.
I understand how nice it is to just open a cookbook, pick something and go for it. It's so relaxing. You've chosen well here. Where might these have come from?
Beautiful cookies, I love the crackle tops!
love crackle cookies. the way you have described the texture sounds spot on to me!
These look fantastic and sound even better..."crispy cake with a gorgeous chewy crunch on the outside and a soft cake like texture on the inside" YUM and once again absolutely stunning photos. 🙂
Look at those lovely crinkles, can't wait to try these out sometime and can't wait to see your book.
Enjoy the process.
Lovely combination of orange and ricotta! I think I must try it ))
these will be delicious! I can just imagine them with my afternoon shot black. Yay for your cook book too, counting the days till I can get it.
These look great! You're right, I think they'd be perfect with a cuppa tea
These cookies look gorgeous Sneh! And you have definitely earned a break after all your hard work. Just remember, it's all worth it in the end!
Divine looking and sounding! Rocotta cookies are terrific.
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh Sneh, yum!! I just bought a huge bag of oranges yesterday and have home made ricotta in the fridge. This is perfect!! I have a soft spot for any orange flavoured desserts