vanilla bean cookies
This is one special cookie! It has beautiful vanilla bean specks & extra vanilla bean extract to guarantee true vanilla taste throughout every bite. Now without say since vanilla is the star here use the very best quality. We use Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans & pure vanilla extract which always have the finest taste to guarantee our cookies come out fabulous. This cookie debuted in our book of favorites in 2008 and has been a repeat guest in our holidays every year since. Family & friends request & look forward in sharing these with us.
- 1 vanilla bean, split
- 1 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 large egg, 1 egg white room temperature
- 2 2/3 cups flour
- demura or decorating sugar
Place the confectioners sugar in a medium bowl & scrape the vanilla bean seeds into it. Mix, add the pods & cover & let sit overnight so the vanilla flavor infuses the sugar. (so good!)
Next day remove the pod & discard or clean & dry it to infuse your granulated sugar or to use in poaching. Beat the sugar & butter in an electric mixer on high speed until fluffy & the beans are speckled throughout about 5 minutes. beat in the vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt. Mix in the flour slowly (so your not wearing it) occasionally scraping down bowl. Divide dough in half and wrap in plastic. Chill in the refrigerator until firm at least 1 hour & up to 2 days.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Flour your working surface & roll out dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut out your shapes. Tranfer with spatula to cookie sheet , refrigerate about 10 minutes.
Beat egg white & brush lightly on cookie tops. Then sprinkle with your decorating sugar. Bake until golden about 12 minutes. Let cool on rack for about 5 minutes then transfer to cooling rack. Repeat with remaining dough.
pantry tip: My kids like to use as many cookie cutters as possible. But for gift giving or a pretty dessert display I like to keep it uniform & simple. Either using round cutters or one cookie cutter shape then keeping the sugar color consistent. Using a large cookie cutter with simple demura sugar & wrapping the cookie in cellophane makes a beautiful gift. Any way you choose they will be delicious!
