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Theirs vs. Mine: Buttermilk Cookies

YumSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:01:56 -0800

The January issue of Gourmet magazine has been sitting on my counter for weeks. More accurately, the recipe for buttermilk cookies has been on my counter for weeks. They just looked so simple and charming, I knew I'd have to make them some day. Well, thankfully that day finally arrived. The cookies, which are inspired by Edna Lewis, have a slight lemon taste to them and are coated with a simple vanilla glaze. When I made my batch, I coated some in vanilla glaze and some in chocolate. These cookies were spongy and delicious, and they're definitely working their way into my regular cookie repertoire. To check out the recipe for yourself, read more.

Buttermilk Cookies
From Gourmet, January 2008

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup well-shaken buttermilk

For Glaze
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons well-shaken buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter 2 large baking sheets.
Whisk together flour, zest, baking soda, and salt.
Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Mix in flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in batches at low speed, beginning and ending with flour mixture, until smooth.
Drop level tablespoons of dough about 1 1/2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until cookies are puffed and edges are golden, 12 to 15 minutes per batch. Cool cookies on sheets 1 minute, then transfer cookies to racks.
Whisk together all glaze ingredients and brush onto tops of warm cookies. [Note, you should sift the confectioners sugar first.]
Let stand until cookies are completely cooled and glaze is set.

Note: After I glazed 2/3 of the cookies with the vanilla glaze, I whisked cocoa powder in to the glaze (you can do this to taste) and used that on the rest of the cookies.

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Krispy Kreme's New Plan: Smaller Stores and Soft-Serve

YumSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:00:28 -0700

After three years of floundering sales, Krispy Kreme has unveiled a new business plan. The doughnut chain famous for its hot-off-the-line, melt-in-your-mouth glazed doughnuts will roll out its own brand of soft-serve ice cream, Kool Kreme. The company also plans to open smaller-sized stores and expand its overseas market share.

Later this year the Winston-Salem, NC-based company plans to open smaller, less costly stores. Shops continue to open, with new franchises outside the United States, in Puerto Rico and Australia.

Kool Kreme has already been tested in markets such as such as Tacoma, WA, and will feature flavors such as Very Vanilla and Deep Chocolate, along with a toppings bar. Krispy Kreme is clearly trying to capitalize on the growing trend of frozen yogurt stores such as Pinkberry and Tasti-D-Lite, but I can't help but think that this move comes a year or two too late, as big cities have already become oversaturated with frozen dessert options. Will you try the latest offering from Krispy Kreme?

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Yummy Link: Pear and Almond Tart

YumSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:01:31 -0800

Warm up the house by baking a beautiful pear and almond tart. Just be sure to save the vanilla-infused marinating liquid to use as a glaze! - Spittoon Extra

Pictures So Tasty You Can Eat Them

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:15:15 -0700

A little while back I told you guys about this baby-shaped cake and most of you seemed pretty creeped out by the idea of eating something that looked so much like a real baby. So how about a cookie instead? The folks over at Mrs. Beasley's will put any photo, image or logo onto a shortbread cookie. The image is printed with an edible food dye on sugar paper that is then glazed (think decoupage) onto an iced vanilla cookie. They can also custom write anything. I'm personally thinking about putting cute babies and puppies with the words "Baby Killer." What do you think?

The cookies last 3 months, but the image will start to fade in 4 or 5 weeks. Cookie prices start at $42 for 12 cookies.

Source: Tastespotting