Sugar Cookies with Edible Flowers

Sugar Cookies with Edible Flowers

I saw a picture of these cookies in a magazine and just had to give them a try. They are so beautiful.

The magazine pic of what they should look like.

Ingredients:

2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 c. confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/2 tsp. Orange extract

Topping:

1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 T. sugar
24 Edible flowers, pansies work best

1. In a bowl, briefly whisk together the flour and salt.  Set aside.
2. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the flat beater, blend the butter and confectioner's sugar.
3. Mix in the egg and extracts until well-blended, scraping the sides of the bowl.
4. Gradually stir in the flour mixture.
5. Chill dough for 30 mins.
6. Preheat oven 275F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. On a floured surface, roll out your cookie dough 1/4 inch thick.
8. Cut out circles, using a 2-1/2 " cookie cutter, and place on the baking sheet.
9. Add a dash of the orange extract to egg white and briefly whip with a fork.
10. Brush a circle with the egg white-extract mixture.
11. Snip the stem of an edible flour to make the flower as flat as possible and place on the cookie, gently pressing 
12. the petals flat.  If the petals separate with the stem is snipped, just piece them back together.
13. Carefully brush the top of the flower the egg white-extract mixture and sprinkle with a pinch of sugar.



My sad version.

14. Fill your tray and bake until the edges begin to brown, 12-14 minutes.

Results: HAHAHA, what a mess!! I decided to make these for a birthday party. Thank goodness I made them the day before so I had time to make something else. Edible flowers are not easy to come by during this time of year.  However, I did find them at Whole Foods for $4.99 per package of 16 flowers. I bought 3 packages. Many of the flowers were dead and the other ones were marigolds. If you know your flowers you know that flower is pretty large and thick. When the stem is cut the flower falls apart. Then you need to apply the egg wash to the flower. The petals stick and fall apart even more. Then you bake this scattered mess. They came out looking like I had put them in the middle of the road for cars to drive over. They were nothing like the precious photo. They tasted like hairy, butter cookies.  After 2 attempts of baking I switched to plain sugar cookies. I also make chocolate orange petits fours. I'll post that experience next. If you try this recipe I recommend using pansies. Send me pics.

Bottom Line: Forget about it.

Please share this debacle with florist around world. Let them know I apologize for harming all those innocent marigolds and I got the license plate number of the car that ran over them.