Best Fried Ribbon Cookies Recipes

FRIED COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl beat together eggs and sugar until thick and light colored. Then beat in shortening, brandy, anise seeds (optional) and salt. Beat in flour gradually.
• On a floured surface, knead dough into a smooth ball. Divide ball into two equal pieces, wrap in waxed paper and chill in refrigerator for at least two hours.
• Roll one piece of dough into a rectangle approximately 12 x 15 inches. (The other piece of dough should be left in refrigerator until ready to be rolled.) Using pastry wheel, cut dough into strips 6 x 1 inch.
• Make a vertical slit in top 1/3 of the strip and draw the bottom end of it through OR tie a knot in the center. Repeat with remaining dough and set aside.
• Heat oil in a deep frying pan to 360 degrees F (185 degrees C). Deep fry strips until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, cool, and sprinkle heavily with confectioners' sugar.

ITALIAN RIBBON COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F and grease three (13" x 9") metal baking pans.
• Line bottom of each with wax paper - letting it extend at two opposite ends - and grease paper.
• Break marzipan paste into small pieces and grind with sugar in food processor until no lumps remain.
• Transfer to a large bowl and add butter.
• Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, then add yolks and almond extract and beat well.
• Beat in flour and salt on low speed.
• Beat egg whites in another bowl with cleaned beaters until they just hold stiff peaks and stir one third into batter to lighten slightly (batter will still be stiff).
• Fold in remaining whites thoroughly.
• Cook's note: Do not make this dough ahead of time.
• Divide dough into thirds (about 1 1/2 cups each).
• Stir green food coloring into one third and red food coloring into another, leaving one third plain.
• Spread each dough separately into a pan.
• (Layers will be thin.) Bake layers in batches in middle of oven until just set and beginning to turn golden along edges, 7 to 10 minutes total.
• Run knife along edges to loosen from pan, then while still hot, invert a large rack over pan and invert layer onto rack, pulling gently on wax paper overhangs to release if necessary.
• Peel off wax paper and cool completely.
• Line a large shallow baking pan with wax paper and slide green layer into it.
• Spread half of jam evenly over green layer and carefully top with plain layer.
• Spread remaining jam evenly over uncolored layer and carefully top with pink layer (trim edges if necessary).
• Cover with plastic wrap and weigh down with a large cutting board or baking pan.
• Chill at least three hours.
• Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water.
• Remove weight and plastic wrap and spread chocolate evenly over top, but not sides, of pink layer.
• Let stand at room temperature until set, about 1 hour, and cut into small diamonds or rectangles (12 rows crosswise and 12 diagonal rows).

FRIED RIBBON COOKIES

Steps:

• Blend the butter, sugar, and salt in the food processor. Add the milk, egg and yolk, rum, lemon juice, and citrus zests, and process everything together until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, dump in all of the flour, and process in pulses until the dough comes together. Clean the bowl again, and pulse a few more times to mix thoroughly.
• Scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead briefly into a soft, smooth ball. If it is sticky, knead in more flour in small amounts. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes to an hour. (You can keep it refrigerated up to a day, but let it return to room temperature before rolling.)
• Cut the chilled dough in half, and work with one piece at a time. Flatten the dough on a lightly floured work surface, and roll it out to a rough square shape, approximately 16 inches on a side. Trim the edges of the square, and with the fluted cutter divide it into ten strips, about 1 1/2 inches wide. Cut across all the strips in the middle to form twenty ribbons, each about 7 inches long (though they shrink after you cut them).
• One at a time, tie each ribbon into a simple overhand knot. If necessary, stretch the ends gently so they're long enough to knot. Place the knotted crostoli on a sheet pan lined with parchment or wax paper as you work, leaving room between them so they don't stick to each other. Roll out the second piece of dough; cut and tie ribbons the same way.
• Meanwhile, pour vegetable oil in the pan to a depth of 2 inches or a bit more. Set over medium heat to reach frying temperature gradually. When you're ready to start frying, raise the heat, and test the oil by dropping in a scrap piece of dough; the fat should bubble actively around the dough, but it shouldn't get dark quickly. (If you have a frying thermometer, heat the oil to 350˚. And be sure to use long-handled tools, hot pads, and caution when deep-frying.)
• Using long-handled tongs, quickly drop the first batch of crostoli into the fryer-raise the heat to return the oil to frying temperature. Don't crowd the cookies-fry only ten or twelve at a time in a 10-inch-diameter pan. The cookies first drop to the bottom, but soon float to the surface. Turn them frequently with tongs and a spider or slotted spoon, to cook evenly.
• Fry the crostoli for 4 minutes or so, as they color gradually to dark gold. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain oil temperature and prevent too rapid browning. When crisp and golden all over, lift them from the oil with a spider or spoon, drain off oil, then lay them on layers of paper towel to cool. Fry the remaining crostoli in batches the same way; drain and cool. Store in a sealed cookie tin or plastic container, and keep them dry.
• To serve, pile the cooled crostoli on a serving plate in a heaping mound. Put the powdered sugar in a small mesh sieve, and dust generously over the cookies.

RIBBON COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar gradually. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well after each addition.
• In another bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Slowly add to the butter mixture, making sure all ingredients are incorporated.
• Divide dough into three equal parts. Add a few drops of red food coloring to one third, mixing until the color is even. Add cocoa and pecans to one third, mixing well. Leave the other third plain.
• Line a loaf pan with wax paper or foil. Press the chocolate layer into the bottom of the pan, pressing firmly to make the dough as flat and even as possible on top. Add the plain dough to the pan, again making an even layer on top of the chocolate. On top of the plain dough, add the red, pressing down flat on top. Wrap the dough completely, leave it in the loaf pan, and chill over night, or until firm enough to slice.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove dough from loaf pan and place on cutting board. Cut the dough lenghth-wise, down the middle, so you have two long "bars" of dough. Put one bar back in the refrigerator, to keep chilled while you work with the other.
• Slice into about 1/8" slices, or thicker if you like them a little softer. The thinner they are sliced, the crispier they will be.
• Bake for about 10 minutes at 325 degrees. Take them out when the bottoms are just browned. Try not to overbake, or they will lose their pretty color.
• Cool on wire rack.