Button Cookies

Ok, how adorable are these button cookies?  Everybody loves chocolate sandwich cookies filled with creamy chocolate ganache, but seriously, turn them into big buttons and I can’t stand it! I think mom would especially like them on Mother’s Day.

For this project you'll need a few simple tools. A straw, wax paper, a set of double sided scalloped cookie cutters, and a rolling pin.

If you don't have a pin with rolling guides, use a regular rolling pin and two wooden skewers.

Cut cookie shapes using scalloped cutter. Keep the bottom half of each sandwich cookie plain like this.

For the top half of each cookie, use something small and round to make an indentation like you see here. Then use a straw to make two button holes. Bake and cool the cookies before filling with ganache.

Use a piping bag or zip-top bag with a corner snipped off to fill the cookies. Turn one of the plain bottom cookies over so the bottom faces up and swirl on a good amount of ganache. Then cover with one of the decorative button cookies. Allow the ganache to set before serving (a couple of hours or overnight).

Enjoy!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• dutch processed cocoa powder https://amzn.to/3AJfxep

• pure vanilla extract https://amzn.to/3udVX90

• beaterblade attachment https://amzn.to/3s6UtuO

• double-sided round cutters https://amzn.to/3KVLd5h

• rolling pin https://amzn.to/3KM1j14

• rolling guides https://amzn.to/3o8uPED

• half sheet pan https://amzn.to/3Hd0MmM

• silpat baking mat https://amzn.to/3HbFRQR
  

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Ganache-Filled Chocolate Button Cookies

makes approximately 30 cookies

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

For the ganache filling:

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 4 ounces high quality semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

For the cookies:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

• 1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, sifted

Directions

To make the Ganache:

1. Gently heat cream and chocolate together; stirring until completely smooth and combined.

2. Cover and chill for 30 minutes (or make the ganache several hours in advance and let it sit at room temperature until it reaches the proper spreading consistency).

To make the cookie dough:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a BeaterBlade attachment, beat the butter on medium high speed for 30 seconds.

2. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt; beat until combined.

3. Add egg and vanilla; beat to combine.

4. Add flour and cocoa powder; mix until incorporated.

5. Wrap dough well with plastic wrap and chill for 1-3 hours.

6. Preheat oven to 375F.

7. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness between two layers of wax paper (these rolling guides work really well).

8. Cut out desired shapes (I used these cutters).

9. Place cookies 2-inches apart on a silpat or parchment lined half sheet pan; bake for 8 minutes or until edges are set (tiny cutouts bake for 5-6 minutes).

10. Transfer cookies to racks and cool completely.

To assemble cookies:

1. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the ganache in the center bottom of each cookie and make a sandwich by adding a decorative top cookie.

2. To store, place unfilled cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with waxed paper, at room temperature for 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw and assemble just before service.

Note

• To prevent distortion, I cut my cookie shapes while the dough is still on the waxed paper, then slide the waxed paper onto a cookie sheet and chill for at least 10 minutes before transferring the shapes to a sheet pan for baking. 

Avocado Toast

The food blogging community is flooded with all kinds of Mexican recipes today, but this one is probably the easiest one you'll see, it only takes about 5 minutes to prepare, and you won't believe how crazy good it is.  One bite and you'll know why we make it again and again.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

We start with a simple clove of garlic, peeled and root end removed.

We'll also need a couple of pieces of toasted bread. The kind of bread doesn't really matter. Whatever floats your boat.

While the toast is still warm, take that clove of garlic and rub it all over the toast. The smell of warm garlic will hit your nose almost immediately and your mouth will begin to water. Don't be alarmed, this is good. Very, very good.

The next step is to take a half of a ripe avocado and smash it like so.

Scoop up the mashed avocado and schmear it all over the garlic rubbed toast. I'm dying here!

Now sprinkle the mashed avocado kosher salt and black pepper, and finish it off with a drizzle of your very best extra virgin olive oil. Sometimes I like to replace the salt and pepper with Everything Bagel seasoning!

If you have any leftover garlic, you can store it in a small glass jar in the fridge until you make your next batch of avocado toast. That'll be about an hour later.

Seriously, it's so good I couldn't even wait to take a photo before sinking my teeth into it. If you love avocado, this is a must try.

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate link)

• garlic peeler https://amzn.to/35KJQ56

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Avocado Toast

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 slices warm toast

• 1 whole clove garlic, peeled

• 1/2 ripe avocado, roughly mashed

• kosher salt and black pepper for sprinkling

• extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

Directions

1. Rub garlic clove all over both pieces of warm toast.

2. Smear mashed avocado evenly on both pieces of toast.

3. Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper.

4. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.