Vanilla Melting Moments

I love watching cooking shows on tv when I have time. Well, I never really have time but I do try to squeeze them in on Saturdays while folding laundry if Ethan is napping. Jack, my little cook in the kitchen, loves watching cooking shows with me, so this works out great. And he gets very enthusiastic about trying to re-create what he saw on the show, and will insist on going straight to the store (after Ethan wakes up) to buy whatever we need to make that recipe. A couple weeks ago we watched a new show on PBS called Favorite Food at Home, featuring Rachel Allen. She is from Ireland, and we really enjoyed watching her cook! Jack was very excited that she made cookies with frosting, and more excited that they did not contain egg since he is allergic. We had everything we needed to make them, so after a little rewinding and pausing (what did we do before DVR?) we wrote down all the ingredients and instructions and got to work.

These are called Vanilla Melting Moments, and that is a great description of what they taste like. The cookies will melt in your mouth. They are so soft and delicate that they will just crumble, so be careful as you handle them. The Vanilla Butter Icing helps sandwich these special cookies together and adds a wonderful depth of flavor.

Warning...this recipe contains A LOT of butter. don't freak out. they are a special treat and if you only eat one or two, which is really all you can because they are so rich, it is okay. And make sure you use REAL unsalted butter and not margarine, okay? thanks.

Vanilla Melting Moments
recipe from Rachel Allen

Ingredients:
1 cup cake flour
1 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup confectionery sugar
2 sticks of butter, room temperature
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine all ingredients in food processor (I used my mixer). Roll dough in small balls, about the size of a large marble, and place on ungreased baking sheet.
Using a fork dipped in cold water, flatten the tops of the cookies slightly, leaving the fork indentation design.

Jack loved doing this, but he was pretty heavy handed with the fork so I had to intervene a little. Bake for 13-14 minutes until the cookies are just set. They will NOT brown. Cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes.

The first pan we made were too big, so we made the second pan much smaller. This recipe will make 40 cookies, but once you sandwich them together you will have half that - 20 cookies.

Now make the frosting.

Vanilla Butter Icing

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp butter, softened

1/2 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp confectionery sugar

1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Beat the butter till soft and add vanilla extract. Add the sugar little by little until it comes together. Using a small dab of frosting on back of one cookie and gently press the back of another cookie onto the frosting to make a sandwiched cookie. Be VERY gentle, these cookies will break if you are not careful.

Jack enjoyed frosting them.

Jack enjoyed eating them too! He is a great little cook, and loves to share what he makes with others.

These Vanilla Melting Moments were delicious, and taste best when eaten the day they are made.

Enjoy!