Chocolate Orange Cornmeal Cookies Recipes

COCOA-CORNMEAL BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Center a rack in the oven, and heat it to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Sift the flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and soda together; whisk in the cornmeal.
• Working with a mixer (using a paddle attachment, if you have one), beat the butter and sugar together on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each egg goes in. Beat in the vanilla extract. Turn the mixer off, and add the flour-cornmeal mixture all at once. Pulse the mixer a few times to begin incorporating the ingredients without having them fly about, and then mix on low speed until they disappear into the dough. Mix in the chips and almonds. The dough will be thick and heavy.
• Scrape half the dough onto one long side of the baking sheet. Using your hands and a spatula, shape the dough into a log about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide - perfection is impossible, so just get close. The log will be bumpy and rough, and that's fine. Form a second log on the other side of the sheet.
• Bake for 25 minutes, rotating the sheet after 15 minutes. The logs will have spread; they'll give when squeezed and won't be fully baked at this point. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack, and allow the logs to rest for 20 minutes. Carefully move one log to a cutting board. (If the parchment on the baking sheet is sticky, turn it over or replace it.) Using a serrated knife, trim the ends and then cut the log horizontally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Stand the slices up on the baking sheet - you don't have to leave much room between them; repeat with the second log.
• Bake the cookies for another 15 minutes - they'll be firmer, but not completely dry; they firm and dry as they cool. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack, and allow the cookies to come to room temperature. Kept covered and away from humidity, the cookies will hold for at least 1 week.

ORANGE-CORNMEAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees with racks in center and lower third. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, orange zest, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and yolks one at a time, beating until combined and smooth after each addition. Add flour and cornmeal, and beat on low speed until just combined.
• Spoon one-third batter into a pastry bag fitted with a start tip (Ateco No. 825). Pipe batter into S shapes, each about 3 inches long, onto prepared baking sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart.
• Place in oven, and bake until edges and bottoms are golden brown, about 22 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. transfer to a wire rack; let cookies cool on baking sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

CRANBERRY CORNMEAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Combine sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add eggs, corn syrup, and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed. Add flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt; beat at low speed until well mixed. Stir in dried cranberries.
• Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls; roll in sugar. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets; flatten slightly with hand. Bake 9-13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.