13 February 2013

An Ode to the Creamsicle ... Candied Citrus Cookies with White Chocolate




So ... I promise not to crab about my February Funk again ... I'm coming along nicely toward a full recovery. Thank you for asking. These sunny little cookies have been providing a bit of therapy.






We had a lovely snow storm over the weekend that cheered me immensely ... no more greys and browns ... only brilliant whites and more snow showers for the next couple days. Now THAT'S more like it, I say. If it must be winter then let's go for the beauty. It IS still cold and raw though, so my mind continues to turn toward warm sunshine and the days when ice cream treats and a dip in the lake will be nice cooling factors in our days.




There's plenty of time before those days, though! To boot, Valentine's Day is right around the corner and today, my mind turned towards a nice little cookie for my sweetheart.  I'm hoping that all of you, dear readers, have had the pleasure of knoshing the Hood Creamsicle . If you haven't, think vanilla ice cream wrapped in a soft orange coating of citrus softness. It's a delight from summer days in my childhood neighborhood, listening for the ice cream truck's canned music and ringing bell. All this dreaming about warm sunshine and shorts and sandals had me thinking about making a cookie that might play on that theme ...

Sprout Sara gave us some candied grapefruit peel as a Christmas gift and there was about a half cup's worth in a small bag in the pantry. Candied citrus, a nice blood orange, and several drops of orange extract all helped to turn a basic chocolate chip cookie dough base into an orange-flavored cookie. Subbing the white chips for the dark chocolate made for a really nice result ... yes, a small ode to the Creamsicle!




Happy Valentine's Day to my own sweet Cookie Monster and to all my Little Cookie Crumbs! SB, we may be approaching 'Old Cootdom', but you still make me feel young at heart! So, let others eat their dark chocolate bonbons and go out for their expensive restaurant meals! Let's you and I just hang out on the couch with a plate of these cookies and a glass of milk! Oh, and we can plug in 'The Princess Bride'! What say you?

As for you Little Crumbs, it's time for a new family picture! What say YOU !!??? XXXOOO Make cookies, kiddos and enjoy your Valentine's Day ... within reason! Wink!





Candied Citrus Cookies with White Chocolate Chips
 
Makes 3 dozen cookies
 Ingredients:
 
2 ½ c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
½ c. unsalted butter
½ c. margarine (yes – no substitutes)
½ c. sugar
½ c. packed light brown sugar
5 -7 drops orange extract
Zest and juice from one orange
1 large egg
1 – 12 oz. bag white chocolate chips
½ c. chopped candied orange or other citrus peel
 
Making the Cookies:
 
  1. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set it aside.
  2. Combine the butter, margarine, and sugars in a deep mixing bowl and beat until creamy.
  3. Add the drops of orange extract and the egg and beat until completely mixed.
  4. Add the zest and orange juice and blend in again until completely smooth.
  5. Add the flour mixture and mix by hand until a stiff dough is formed.
  6. Fold in the white chocolate chips and candied citrus peel.
  7. Drop by generous teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake for ten minutes or until the cookies begin to get a bit gold on top and around the edges.
  8. Let cool for one minute on the cookie sheets before removing the cookies and cooling them on racks or foil.
  9. Store in a covered container.

9 comments:

  1. We just watched "Princess Bride" again! We know too many lines. Still love it. And would love to share a plate of those cookies with my old coot. They look lovely, and take heart, the February funk will be over soon . . . the groundhog says that spring will be early!

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  2. Susan, these sound wonderful. Restaurants would go out of business if everyone was surrounded by such a beautiful family. I hope your week is off to a good start. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  3. Sorry about the February Funk, if February is all it is it won’t be long now.
    Thank you for following me on Friko’s Poetry. Please don’t be cross if I don’t react to comments there, I am much friendlier on my main blog.

    I love your recipes, unfortunately I have a problem with dairy products. I hate people who can eat cream and milk chocolate and cheese. So there!

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  4. PLEASE let's take a new photo!

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  5. These do brighten our day with with thoughts of citrus and warm sunshine.

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  6. If it must be winter then let's go for the beauty - I LOVE THAT, SUSAN!

    I have no doubt the funk will be long gone but sometimes funk is good - it helps us slow down, non? I love your family pic and those cookies - what i would give for one now with the coffee?...sigh...

    chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors

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  7. What a lovely twist on the traditional cookie! I remember Hood creamsicles--so yummy! I'm not a big fan of white chocolate, but with the orange flavors I think they would taste great. Can't wait to try them.

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  8. Snow! Oh, lucky you...I've never ever lived with snow. Sure, I've seen it, but I haven't been immersed it in.
    Love the cookies, with the tart-fresh citrus to contrast with sweetness of the white chocolate. Yum!

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  9. Gosh, that sounds so yummy, since I love orange flavored everything!

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