My own tried-and-true recipes for home cooks.
Cannoli Cookie Sandwiches
That’s why these cookies were born. Out of necessity, out of a mold-less desire, out of lust for ricotta filling. I had the idea that you could just make the same cannoli dough, punch them out as circles with a cookie cutter, fry them flat, and then assemble them as cookie sandwiches. Easy enough! The idea mostly works. I think they tend to puff up quite a bit more in this shape because there’s no mold keeping the air bubble at bay. It seems like a blessing in disguise though because it contributes to this lighter-than-air feeling when you sink your teeth into these cookie sandwiches.
Lemon Meringue Pie Cookies
So why make these cookies? Truthfully, they’re transcendent. I have never had a cookie like this before. I don’t actually know if I’ve ever had meringue on top of a cookie before now that I think about it (and I’m tempted to continue the trend). The balance between sweet/buttery sugar cookie dough, sunny/tart/zippy lemon curd, and just-sweet-enough/caramelized meringue can’t be beat. Sure, you could just make a regular ‘ole lemon meringue pie. But that’s no fun! And this way everyone gets a perfectly perfect lemon meringue pie (cookie) all to themself.
The Ultimate S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies
The journey of trying to make this cookie. I knew the bar was high. I couldn’t disappointment myself and follow the tarnished history of miserable s’mores-flavored confections. Of course, I brought out the usual heavy hitters for the matter: browned butter, flaky salt, and dark brown sugar. But to get the real toastiness you get from s’mores, that childhood nostalgia flavor, I made the jump to use malted milk powder in the dough. That’s what gives these cookies their edge, their flavor oomph. Also, holding back the amount of chocolate is key. S’mores are about ingredient balance: too much chocolate and the graham and marshmallow goo are too muted.
Pistachio-Stuffed Raspberry Cookies
My brain immediately went to Librae Bakery on Cooper Square in Astor Place, famous for their rose-pistachio croissant that perfectly straddles nuttiness and floralness. But with Valentine’s Day coming up, I wanted these cookies to be naturally pink. That’s where incorporating ground-up freeze-dried raspberries into the dough comes into play, imparting lovely fruitiness. So that’s where I ended up—a largely similar recipe to the almond version, with some tweaks for the pistachio fans and the Hallmark-promoted day of love.
Key Lime Pie Cookies
Unlike with my almond and pistachio croissant cookies, key lime pie cookie recipes do exist in some form on the internet and I’m pretty sure Crumbl had a version of these, too. BUT, all of those versions are fake key lime pie cookies. What do I mean by fake? They’re a graham cracker cookie with a key lime pie-flavored frosting spread on top after baking, often made with cream cheese. Yuk! If I’m going to have a key lime pie in cookie form, I want it to be as close to the original as possible, which means baking the filling. The type of cookie most eligible to handle such a task: the humble thumb print. Usually, teeny tiny and crumbly, thumb print cookies are forgettable. When you make them absolutely massive as I do here, and ensure the cookie stays moist through a quick bake time, they become sensational.
Almond Croissant Cookies
From ChatGPT:
"Transform your kitchen into a patisserie with our Almond Croissant Cookies recipe. These delightful treats capture the essence of a traditional almond croissant but in a convenient cookie form. Perfect for any occasion, these cookies are a delightful blend of buttery, flaky layers and rich almond flavor. Let's dive into this simple yet scrumptious recipe that will have your family and friends begging for more."
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
From ChatGPT: Embrace the essence of autumn with these Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins. These heavenly morsels are a celebration of the season's bounty, blending the earthy warmth of pumpkin with the creamy decadence of cream cheese. Baking a batch of these aromatic muffins fills your home with a symphony of autumnal scents, inviting loved ones to gather around and savor the flavors of fall. With a tender crumb and a luscious core of cream cheese, these muffins are the epitome of comfort and indulgence.
Pumpkin Butter Swirl Cookies
Adapted from Eric Kim at the New York Times’ “Gochujang Caramel Cookies”, these cookies are a great autumn version of a classic sugar or snickerdoodle cookie.
Deep Dish, Double-Crust Pie Dough
Pie dough is simultaneously one of the simplest things to make in the kitchen and somehow made out to be complicated. You need 0 special equipment to make the dough, just a bowl, some utensils, and your hands. And more than that, the ingredient list is just flour, water, butter, some sugar, and some salt. So I am of the stance that every single person can make homemade pie dough. No culinary skills, no fancy machines, no talent needed, just an ability to follow my directions!
Standard Pie Dough
Pie dough is simultaneously one of the simplest things to make in the kitchen and somehow made out to be complicated. You need 0 special equipment to make the dough, just a bowl, some utensils, and your hands. And more than that, the ingredient list is just flour, water, butter, some sugar, and some salt. So I am of the stance that every single person can make homemade pie dough. No culinary skills, no fancy machines, no talent needed, just an ability to follow my directions!