pink cookies

 

This recipe is a slight adaptation of one found in ‘A Homemade Life’ by local author, Molly Wizenberg.  They taste best the second day, after the frosting has had a chance to seep into the top layer of the shortbread-style cookie.  Trust me on this one.  Be warned, they are highly addictive, particularly when chilled.  Their secret weapon is a touch of almond extract in the cream cheese frosting.  Wizenberg’s version calls for kirsch or cherry extract and I imagine it would be just as good but I do love the way the hint of almond flavor plays off of the tangy cream cheese.  Whether you opt for almond or cherry, the flavoring adds that je ne sais quoi and these cookies wouldn’t be the same without it. 

yields approximately 24 cookies

ingredients

cookies
1 – 1/2 cups ( 3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted after measuring
3 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 teaspoon salt, rounded
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

frosting
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted after measuring
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 pinch salt
a touch of red or pink food coloring

 

directions

cookies
In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the vanilla and mix well. 

In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt until well combined.  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until the flour is incorporated.  

Place the dough on a large piece of plastic wrap.  It should be a bit crumbly but not dry.  Shape the dough into a disc and wrap well.  Refrigerate for 1 hour. 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

On a floured sheet of parchment paper, roll out the dough to just under 1/4” thick.  Cut out either rounds, hearts or flowers, depending on preference.  Really, any shape will do.  Work quickly as the dough is difficult to handle as it softens.  If the dough becomes too soft, wrap it in plastic and return it to the refrigerator for about 15 minutes.

Place the cookies 1 – 1/2” apart on parchment lined baking sheets.  Bake one sheet at a time for 16 – 20 minutes or until edges are very lightly colored.  Chill the other sheet of cookies in the refrigerator until ready to bake.  Carefully transfer the baked cookies, still on parchment, to a wire rack to cool.

 

frosting
In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed, until fully combined.  Add the powdered sugar and beat on low speed, until incorporated.  Raise the speed to medium-high and beat until satiny smooth and free of lumps, scraping down the bowl, as needed.  Add almond flavoring and 1 or 2 drops of food coloring.  Add more color as desired.  I prefer a very light pink, reminiscent of a cherry blossom.

Once the cookies have fully cooled, spread the tops with a generous layer of frosting; the thicker, the better.  Allow the frosting to set for about an hour before storing, to prevent smudging.  The cookies keep for up to three days in the refrigerator or for several months in the freezer. 

Adapted from the recipe for Jimmy’s Pink Cookies in ‘A Homemade Life’ by Molly Wizenberg.