My mom keeps cookies and quick breads in her freezer to take out when people stop by unannounced..and people do that a lot in her little town. Every time I am there some one is just stopping in to say “hi”. So when my In-laws and I were there in July my mother-in-law found it to be the strangest thing that my mom just whipped out two types of cookies from the freezer and put them on a plate. Though not strange to me.
Then we got home. We had some down time and cool weather for July and so the baking itch happened. I had wanted to try to make a pie that was similar to key lime but use oranges(recipe coming in the next week) and I wanted the crust to be a butter citrus cookie. Knowing all to well that this cookie did not exist commercially I searched for a recipe to make it. When my mother-in-law asked me what I was making and I told her and told her why…out came the strange look I saw her give my mother. “You make your own cookies to make a crust?” Not always I told her but I am looking for a certain flavor, so yes, I needed to make them special for this.
I so often forget that not everyone is like me. There is a very good reason Sandra Lee(don’t get me started on that woman) is so popular on the Food Network. Or Rachel Ray for that matter(never had a successful recipe from her btw…though after the 3rd on I stopped trying). People want short cuts, not wanting to extend the cooking process. Well, not all people. Some of us crazies are out there.
Now I am not nearly as bad as I used to be. I had a phase there were I was even making my own ricotta cheese to go into my lasagna…with homemade noodles of course. I creamed my own butter…which I must admit I still do to make a couple cake recipes…comes out soooo nice.
So as not to look totally crazy to my mother-in-law I decided to make the full cookie recipe and fill half of them with the buttercream frosting that was suppose to go with them. I actually prefer these cookies without the buttercream to my surprise.
And the good thing is, these freeze nicely so you can have them in your freezer ready for guest to look at you strangely whenever they stop by. 😉
Citrus Sandwich Cookies
Citrus Cookies
2 cups all purpose flour
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
14 TBSP unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk
2 tsp finely grated lemon zest
2 tsp finely grated orange zest
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar at medium speed for 3 minutes. Add egg and zest and beat until combined. Reduce to slow speed and add flour mixture just until well blended. Scrape dough onto a work surface and gather it up into a disk. Wrap the disc in plastic warp and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until firm(up to 3 days).
Position two racks near the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350F. Line tow baking sheets with parchment paper or foil.
Place the chilled dough on a lightly floured work surface and sprinkle lightly with flour. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Using a 1 ½ inch round scalloped cookie cutter, cut out as many cookies possible from the dough.
Transfer dough to baking sheets and bake for 9-11 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom(not the top).
Transfer the cookies to wire racks and cool completely.
Citrus Filling
¼ cup orange juice
1 TBSP lemon juice
6 TBSP unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 TBSP heavy cream
pinch of salt
In a small nonreactive saucepan, bring the orange and lemon juices to a boil over high heat and boil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until reduced to about q TBSP. Let cool completely.
In a bowl of an electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the butter, powdered sugar, cream, slat and cooled citrus juices at medium speed until smooth.
Spread about a tsp of the filling onto the bottom of one of the cookies. Top with another cookie. Press the cookies lightly together. Repeat with the remaining cookies and filing. Serve the cookies at room temperature or chilled.
Adapted from The Good Cookie by Tish Boyle
HoneyB says
It is not so strange to me to have cookies in the freezer! When we were little, if when we went to Nanny’s and there no cookies in her “cookie spot” we knew there would be some in her freezer! They were always so good it didn’t matter if we ate them frozen either!
Cakelaw says
I think having cookies in the freezer is a great idea – you’d never get caught short. These sandwich cookies look fantastic.
Rosa says
That’s a good idea when you have unexpected visitors! Those cookies look yummylicious! Can I have one?
Cheers,
Rosa
chocolatechic says
Those looks so very refreshing.
clumbsycookie says
I don’t think those cookies would make it to my freezer! Making your own cookies to make the crust seams very normal to me, I’m also used to the strange looks from people. But then when they taste “no-shortcuts” things they drop the strange face and put a happy one!
breadchick says
This is the second sandwich cookie I’ve bookmarked today. Guess I’m making sandwich cookies this weekend!
katie102006 says
Citrus cookies are my favorite. And these look amazing!
Anh says
Yum. I love citrus cookies, too. And I wish I had a jar full of these at home. Would make me really happy!
elly says
Ooh these citrus cookies look so good and they sound so good with the buttercram. And don’t worry, you are in good company with tons of other food-obsessed crazies (myself included). 🙂
Patricia Scarpin says
I don’t think these need any filling either, Pea – even though it sounds wonderful, too.
And I get all the strange looks and comments when I say I make my own hummus, pesto sauce, even tomato sauce… It’s like I’m from another planet or something. 🙂
Judith says
I love that idea! I’ve been having trouble with freezer space during the summer (trying not to use the stove much so lots of frozen veggies for microwaving and fruits for smoothies), but when autumn comes I really need to start freezing baked goods for later. I did that with cookie dough not too long ago and it was so convenient to be able to just pull out, thaw, and bake cookies without dirtying a dish!
VeggieGirl says
HAHA!!! You and me both, Peabody – do NOT get me started on Sandra Lee… oh goodness.
Those sandwich cookies sound so refreshing, sweet, and delectable – yum!!
Dana McCauley says
Hmm…this sounds like a chicken and egg situation: do people drop by because they know you mom has yummies in the freezer or does your mom have yummies in the freezer because people drop by? Regardless, these cookies look like a wonderful retro treat!
Sarah says
These look so tasty! I was just curious, you freeze them after they are already baked? Does it take a while to defrost them before serving? Could you freeze the dough, and then bake them just when people stop by?
grace says
i always say that if your filling doesn’t ooze out, you’re not adding enough. these look spectacularly delicious. 🙂
patsyk says
Those cookies sound wonderful!
My MIL keeps a stash of all types of baked goods in the freezer throughout the year for those same reasons. She also does it so that she is not doing all of her holiday cooking in December for her gift baskets. I started doing this in the last couple of years and my hubby loves having sweet treats available whenever the mood strikes him.
Mary says
I think it’s brilliant to have cookies ready for in case someone stops by. It DOES happen in small towns. freaky. Only problem is, how does your mom keep from eating the cookies in the freezer? I’m afraid a little freezing won’t deter me.
Culinarywannabe says
I have the same question as Sarah – I’ve heard of freezing dough before but not actual baked cookies. Do most baked cookies hold up after being frozen or is just a particular kind? I cannot believe you make your own ricotta – you’re my hero! 🙂
Wandering Coyote says
Yum! I thought these looked familiar…I have that cookbook! I’ve made a few recipes from it and they’ve been great. I’ll have to make these cookies here a priority.
Manggy says
Prefer them without buttahcream?! Nooooo! Hee hee. Well, they do look really good. I am just imagining the bright citrusy flavors..
Wait, there’s a way to not cream your own butter for cake?!
Long live the crazies!
Deborah says
I hope to be like you one day – making everything from scratch! Although I can understand making cookies for the crust if you are looking for a particular flavor. And I hope I have a freezer big enough one day to keep stocked with goodies like these, because these sound fantastic!
CB says
I use to think I was the semi-homemade type baker but after I started learning to do things from scratch (albeit not like your make-my-own-ricotta scratchness) its really amazing to notice the difference in taste. I still have funfetti cake mix in my pantry though. I love that funfetti! Must be a kid-at-heart thing.
/Clara
Megan says
that citrus filling is calling my name. i could just eat a bowl of that, sans cookie.
cindy says
i laughed when i read this. whenever people find out that i make a lot of the food i eat they ask “why” with a certain puzzled look on their face.
browniegirl says
These look stunning!! I am known to do the same as you…..there are some of us out there 😉
Erin says
These look delicious! I love the light citrus flavor. I think that it’s always better to bake from scratch. I’m kind of a purist 🙂 I can’t wait to see the pie update. I’m sure it will be lovely!
Joelen says
I totally admire your “from scratch” preferences… and wish I had more time to cook and bake that way more often. As for the cookies, what a great change of pace from standard sandwich cookie flavors! Your creativity is just awesome. 🙂
Sarah says
LOL, I’m like your mother, always have some form of something ready to whip out! Come to think of it, my future MIL would probably give me the same response…
I have a gift for you at my blog: http://yummysmells.blogspot.com/2008/08/unimpressed.html
Ranee @ Arabian Knits says
I don’t think it’s odd to make all your food or for your mother to keep treats in the freezer (the best way to store eggs, IMO, is in a poundcake in the freezer). I not only make as much as possible from scratch, but I take quick and easy recipes and make them long and fussy, so I don’t rely on instant foods.
I find it bizarre that people react to you so strongly. I get that not everyone wants to take the time or effort, but to think someone else is batty for doing it. I don’t get that.
Holly @ PheMOMenon says
Up with the crazies! Those cookies look fantastic!
Lisa says
Now these are my kinda cookies! YUM! I want to make these just to keep in the freezer so I can eat them frozen! 😛
I came lookin’ for something.. and realized I’d been missing lots of posts, so I just read through them all.. glad you had fun at the BBQ! 🙂 Fakk those ungrateful witches across the hall.
Everything you’ve made has my tummy growling now – thanks, Gracie. 😛
xoxooxooxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxo
Hannah says
I also tend to make my own graham crackers in order to make crust. Hooray for “from scratch” bakers! 🙂
Jen Yu says
I find there aren’t many people who like to do *anything* the old fashioned way, you know what I mean? People want short cuts, people don’t want to learn how to do stuff anymore, they just want to pay money and have someone do it for them, or they make those half-assed attempts that drive me crazy. I’m glad you aren’t like that. I have a lot of respect for people who want to learn to do things and want to be good at those things. Lisa is hilarious, isn’t she? I hated those chicks across the hall from you too. I’d kick their patooties personally if they were your neighbors today.
Susan at StickyGooeyCreamyChewy says
My mom does the same thing! God forbid someone should stop by unannounced, and she didn’t have some frozen cookies to serve with coffee, lol.
I really love that cookie recipe. You are so right about it making a nice pie crust. Can’t wait to see the pie.
Psychgrad says
It’s funny how behaviour that feels so natural to some people seems utterly strange to others. I feel best when I have some in my freezer or fridge to offer guests.
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
Of course we all want your mom’s address so we can stop in for cookies!
Jenny says
That’s okay crazy lady, we like you anyways. 🙂
Mari says
Can’t wait to make these babies, we’re big time citrus lovers at our house!
Fruittart says
My kind of crazy club! 🙂 I have a lot of recipes that I always double just so I can freeze half for those surprise visits. I’ve converted a couple of friends to it also b/c they love to look like the effortless hostess with the mostess.
Lovely cookies and your pie looks scrumptious too.
Elle says
*sigh* Get the same look when I talk about my blog to some folks and about cooking as part of my job (how did I get that lucky??) to others. Still, being strange is nothing new. These cookies are not at all strange, just wonderful.
Kate says
In my freezer right now I have peppermint cookies, peanut butter cookies, cheesecake, carrot cake, and bananas for bread making.
Jaime says
i have actually had a few successful recipes from rachael ray
these look so simple and i’m sure the flavor is very nice 🙂
i’ve got a few things in my freezer too… i’ve got a batch of the pecan honey stick buns, some apple cheddar scones, and caramel filled brownies 🙂
Mrs. L says
But we like you crazy…gives us more food porn like this!
Jude says
Love the citrus filling. I could think of a couple uses for it already.
kellypea says
I get it. It’s all about the process. It always is. And shortcuts in life completely lack that, of course. At least you’ve given Rachael a try. I couldn’t even muster up the energy to do that. I’m thinking these cute cookies would be great for breakfast.
Kimberley says
In my family cookies rarely last long enough to bother freezing them. However my grandma always kept a roll of homemade cookie dough in the freezer, so when us grandkids visited she could whip it out and slice it and have fresh baked cookies in less than 20 minutes!
These cookies look amazing. I get weird looks for not taking shortcuts too. Especially from the hubby. He just doesn’t understand why I avoid cake mix, or why I could possibly want to make butter…. le sigh.