Panda Cookies

To make up for last week's missing post, I've decided to make two this weekend! These panda cookies follow a basic, vanilla refrigerator cookie recipe which can be modified to make different shapes / flavors (such as Pinwheels). Experiment as you please! :)

 

Vanilla Refrigerator Cookies

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups flour

2.  3/4 cups (1.5 sticks) butter, softened at room temperature

3. 1 cup sugar

4. 2.5 tsp. vanilla

5. 1 egg

6. 1 tsp. baking powder

7. 1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. Cream butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.

2. Add egg and vanilla, beat into wet mixture.

3. In a separate bowl, sift flour, salt, baking powder.

4. Mix dry mixture into wet mixture in two portions.

5. Split dough in half. Roll each half into a rectangle (how thick your rectangle is depends on how long you want your log to be) on plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Wrap dough-log with the plastic wrap / aluminum foil. 

6. Chill logs in refrigerator for at least 15-30 minutes (or until dough is firm).

7. Preheat oven to 375F.

8. Take out logs from refrigerator. Using a sharp knife, cut logs into 1/4" thick slices.

8. Place cookies on un-greased baking sheets (you can line the sheets with parchment paper if you wish).

9. Bake for ~8 minutes. Let cookies cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.

Panda Cookies

Ingredients:

1. Same as for Vanilla Refrigerator Cookie

2. 1/2 oz. (1/2 square) semisweet chocolate
3. Black sesame seeds
4. 1 tbs. confectioner's sugar

5. 1/4 tsp. milk

Directions for Panda Cookies:

1. Steps 1-4 same as for Vanilla Refrigerator Cookie.

2. Split dough into 5/6 and 1/6 portions. Set the 5/6 portion aside. 

3. Melt 1/2 oz. (1/2 square) of semisweet chocolate in microwave (about 20 seconds) and pour over 1/6 portion of dough. Incorporate chocolate into dough through mixing or rolling with hands.

4. Separate the 1/6 chocolate dough into 4 piles and roll into thin logs (for ears, eyes).

5. Roll the 5/6 portion into a log.
6. Cut two slits lengthwise along the top of the 5/6 portion log where you want eyes to be located. Optional: cut a slit down the center on the bottom of the log to give form to the panda's face.

7. Widen the eye-slits and place the chocolate logs into them, then close and seal with vanilla dough.

8. Add ears using other two chocolate logs.

9. Bake cookies at 375F for approximately 8 minutes.

10. When cooled, mix confectioner's sugar with milk to make glaze. Using a chopstick, dab a bit of glaze into the center of the chocolate eye, then add a sesame seed on top of the glaze. Using some glaze, secure a sesame seed for the nose.

Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!

Ellie