French Butter Cookies From Joy Of Baking Recipes

CLASSIC FRENCH MADELEINES

Steps:

• Cut the butter in tablespoons and place them in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, reduce the heat to low and continue cooking, until the solids sink to the bottom of the pan and turn golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour the browned butter into a small bowl. Stir the vanilla and lemon zest into the butter, then set aside to cool.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside until needed.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs at medium speed while gradually adding the sugar. Once all of the sugar has been added, increase the speed to medium-high and continue whipping the mixture until it's very thick and pale in color, about 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the mixer off and, using a silicon spatula, fold in the flour mixture in three additions, stirring just until combined. Fold in the butter mixture.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, and up to 2 days.
• 30 minutes before you're ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees (F). Generously brush the molds of your madeleine pan with butter, then lightly dust with flour.
• Using a medium cookie scoop, spoon level scoops of the batter into the center of each mold. You don't need to spread the batter.
• Bake for 12 minutes, or until the "bellies" have risen and they're golden brown.
• Cool madeleines in the pan placed on a cooling rack for a minute or two, then gently loosen them from the molds. If they stick, carefully run a small knife around the edge of the cakes until they release.
• Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve warm, with coffee or tea.

FRENCH BUTTER COOKIES FROM JOY OF BAKING

Steps:

• In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
• Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until blended.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat just until incorporated. Do not over mix the dough.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface, knead the dough a few times to bring it together, and then divide the dough in half.
• Wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (at least an hour).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• Remove one portion of the dough from the refrigerator and place on a lightly floured work surface. Roll out the dough until it is 1/4 inch (1 cm) thick. Using a lightly floured 2 inch (5 cm) round fluted cookie cutter, cut out the cookies, placing them on the prepared sheet.
• Place the baking sheet of cut out cookies in the refrigerator for about 15 -20 minutes to chill the dough.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the egg with the water for the egg wash. Remove the cookies from the refrigerator and brush the tops with the egg wash.
• Then, with the tines of a fork (or I like to use the end of a toothpick), make a crisscross pattern on the top of each cookie.
• Bake cookies in the preheated oven for about 12-14 minutes (depending on size of cookie) or until golden brown around the edges.
• Cool cookies on wire rack.
• Store in an airtight container for up to a week.