Sunday, December 19, 2010

Santa Madeleines

I am a horrible cookie decorator! I keep thinking one day a miracle will happen and I will finally get it. The fact is, I actually prefer most desserts unfrosted. A little sprinkle of sugar on top of a cookie is just fine with me...or a drizzle of good chocolate.


However, when I saw these Santa Madeleines, I thought they were so adorable that I'd give them a try. Unfortunately, I thought the frosting recipe was very hard to work with (couldn't have been me) and I didn't care for the taste of it either.


The Madeleines themselves were wonderful!  I used the 'optional' crushed anise seed and it added a delightful yet subtle flavor to these dainty little cakes.  I will be making this recipe again.


I do love Santas - but only the ones I don't have to decorate myself :)



Madeleines (Plain or Santa - You Decide)

Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens
Printable Recipe

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
2 egg yolks
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
2 teaspoons orange juice
1/2 teaspoon anise seed, crushed (optional)

1 recipe Decorator Frosting (see recipe below) or 2 cans vanilla frosting
Red, blue, green, pink, and/or black paste food coloring
Small round candies (optional)

Grease and flour twenty-four 3-inch madeleine molds; set aside. Stir together flour and baking powder; set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl beat egg and egg yolks with an electric mixer on high speed 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Add powdered sugar; beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed about 5 minutes more or until very thick and satiny. Beat in butter with an electric mixer on low speed. Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until combined. Stir in orange peel, orange juice, and, if using, anise seed. Carefully spoon batter into the prepared molds, filling each three-fourths full.

Bake in a 375 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until edges are golden and tops spring back. Cool in molds on rack 1 minute. Loosen cookies with a knife. Invert cookies onto a rack and cool completely.

Divide frosting, leaving about half of it white; color one-third with red and/or pink food coloring and remaining with green, black, and/or blue food coloring.

To decorate, fill a decorating bag fitted with a small star tip with white frosting. Pipe on hat trim at an angle about a third of the way down from narrow end of cookie. Fill decorating bag fitted with a small star tip or plain tip with red or pink frosting; pipe on hat. With white frosting, pipe on mustache, beard, and pom-pom hat. Fill decorating bag fitted with a small round tip with green, black, or blue frosting; pipe on eyes. Using red frosting, pipe on mouth. Pipe on other frosting decorations. (Or, use small round candies for eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks, attaching them with frosting.) Wrap cookies tightly to store. Makes 24 cookies.

44 comments:

  1. I can't decorate a cookie either - try as I might I think I don't have a steady enough hand or something. That said I think yours look pretty darn good :)

    I don't think I have ever had or tasted a madeleine they must not be as popular around here.

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  2. Your cookies are cute and I just know they taste great! (We've already talked about my cookie skills:@)
    Merry Christmas Susan!

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  3. Your little Santas are as cute as can be, Susan. I lose my cool when I get a piping bag in my hands so try to stay away from stressers like that. LOL.

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  4. Oops, I meant to write stressors. That's what happens when I even think about decorating a cookie.

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  5. They look very good. I thought that you decorated them quite well. I've never made madelines, I think that it's time that I did.

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  6. They look great...and for the record I am the worlds worst when it comes to decorating cookies.

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  7. You are a lovely cookie decorator!
    your recipe is so tempting...
    Ciao,
    Barbara

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  8. I thought they were adorable but after your comments will not be decorating mine but the recipe looks wonderful and I intend to try the madelines!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  9. They sound good on their own. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
    I have found that many of the highly decorated sweet treats are often not real tasty anyway.
    Have a great week.

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  10. They are cute, Susan! I am not much of a cookie/cake decorator, either.

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  11. Susan, I think they are adorable. Love Madeleines -- just even love the name! Your Santa collection is great too! Joni

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  12. As long as they are sweet, I will eat them! I have always admired your Santa collection Susan. I haven't perfected cookie decorating either. Actually, I have never even tried!

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  13. They're adorable, Susan! I love Madeleine's! Never had them with frosting but dipped in chocolate are nice!

    Love the Santa's!

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  14. They look so happy and festive Susan.. Good job! I've never seen one done like this before!!

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  15. These are so cute! I took cake decoating this year and had hopes of decorating cookies this year. Time is running out on me, not sure I am going to get it done.

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  16. I like to make Madeleines and would never had thought of decorating them with frosting. I have dipped them in chocolate but really like them just as they are.

    The little Santa's are cute though!

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  17. I've never made Madeleines and I'm not sure if I've ever eaten one, but I am pretty sure that, like you, I'd prefer them plain and especially if I have to frost one this week. :D

    Cute mosaic!

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  18. I usually don't like iced cookies either, it gets so hard! So I will take mine plain. But Mack will like the Santa!
    My gkids like the cookies plain, easier for Nana!

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  19. Not a good decorator either - esp the inticate ones. But yours look so cute, I bet Mack will love them. I have a mini Madeline pan and love them..may have to make a new batch!!

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  20. I've always wanted to make Madeleines but never have - thank you for posting the recipe! Now I feel motivated to give it a try. :)

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  21. These Santa madeleins are so cute. I never thought of decorating them like this. Merry Christmas Susan!

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  22. The madeleines look relly good and I do love your Santa-mosaic. Your food-photos are marvelous. So crisp and sharp. Do you have extra photo-lamps for them?
    Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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  23. Your Santa Madeliens are aroble; never would have thoughtof decorating them. Ièt not really into decorating cookies either. Wishing you a great week.
    Rita

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  24. Your cookies are so sweet! I prefer unfrosted too, but the decorated Santas are so cute for the holiday season. I'm not good at decorating, but I hope the quality of my baking makes up for it!

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  25. Adorable! Love all the Santas and thanks for the recipe. I suppose I could use my standard white icing recipe for the decor. I haven't baked in ages, but this might be just the thing to get me back in the baking saddle! :D :D

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  26. Your santa madeleines are really cute. Never seen a santa madeleine before! The crushed anise seed is a lovely addition. Hope you are having fun preparing for Christmas!

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  27. Well, I think you are wrong about being a horrible cookie decorator but I know I am... whenever I have to think of getting out a bag and tip... I get chills. I have 50% success rate if that. One day I will sit myself down and practice for hours. Your little cookies are adorable and perfect for the holidays!

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  28. I think you did a beautiful job decorating your Santa's! Thanks for the recipe - I love Madeleine's, but have never made them!

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  29. Susan, they are cute!Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe, I'll try...A hug...

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  30. i am sooo bad at icing cookies and decorating them- i can do little details

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  31. oops.. that posted before i was ready.... i am sooo bad at icing cookies and decorating them- i can do little details but I CANT make smooth backgrounds

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  32. i would say your pretty good my fav cakes love these

    thanks for your kind wishes about my parents getting here :-)

    Rebecca

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  33. I used to make decorated cookies when my children were young but the past few years all I decorate is gingerbread men. I may take out my royal icing recipe next year as my grandson might be old enough by then to enjoy a few big decorated sugar cookies :)

    I do love Madeleines with a cup of tea and this sounds like a very nice recipe!

    I am also a Santa Claus ornament collector -- I loved seeing yours!

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  34. I'm right there with you, I am not a icing lover, I prefer my cookies naked! But your madeleines are so cute! Great job!

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  35. It's nice to meet another non-icing expert! I think the cookies are cute - and, the recipe sounds awesome with anise! We make an anise sugar cookie each year, so we love that spice.

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  36. Kudos for trying! I'm not a decorator either. A flower here or a plastic birthday hat there. Sometimes a little stick fir tree with a plastic deer adorns a Christmas cake or yule log. I do love madeleines--the only part of Proust I ever truly enjoyed!

    Best wishes for a merry Christmas and a blessed new year.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  37. Cute little Santas. I do not own a madeline pan. Must look for one. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  38. Susan, these are adorable. Who would ever have thought about decorating madeleines? I laughed out loud when I saw these! Happy Holidays to you and your family.

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  39. Thank you, all! I'm glad to read that I'm not the only one who doesn't like decorating or iced cookies :)

    Ingmarie, thank you for the compliment. I don't use any special lamps. I just try to get the food near a window and shoot during the day whenever possible and I also use manual settings on the camera.

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  40. So nice Santa...great idea with madeleines! Congrats!

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  41. I am headed to DSL bootcamp in Feb! YAY! What an ADORABLE post and idea. I love that you have so perfectly decorated a couple, and on a platter like yours, that is about all you need to get that little grin on the faces of those you love. A little powdered sugar snow -a nd brilliant. I am so touched but your light heartedness here, Susan!
    :)
    Valerie

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  42. Completely adorable!! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

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