Best Italian Polenta Cookies Recipes

Polenta Cookies image

Provided by Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 2h5m

Yield 2 1/2 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 1/2 cups polenta, stone-ground grits or coarse cornmeal, plus additional as needed
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

In a bowl, mix together the polenta, flour, baking powder and salt.
In a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and yolk one by one, then add the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix until a firm dough forms.
Divide the dough in half, place each piece onto a piece of parchment or wax paper, and shape the dough into a rough log about 2 inches in diameter, dusting with cornmeal as needed to prevent sticking. Roll up in the paper, twisting the ends to seal, and roll back and forth a few times to smooth out the shape. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. (At this point, the dough can be frozen for up to 2 months.)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. With a sharp knife, cut the cookies into 1/2-inch slices, and place on the prepared cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake, rotating halfway through, until cookies are just golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
Polenta cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Venetian Cornmeal Cookies (Zaleti) image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Makes about 40

Number Of Ingredients 12

2/3 cup dried currants
2 tablespoons almond liqueur
1 cup quick-cooking cornmeal (not instant)
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk (reserve egg white for egg wash)
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Sanding sugar, for sprinkling

Steps:

Combine currants and almond liqueur in a small bowl. Let soak until fruit is plump, 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg and egg yolk, lemon zest, and vanilla. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut butter into dry ingredients until coarse crumbs form. Add plumped currants and wet ingredients, gently stirring until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Shape into a flat square, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate 45 minutes or up to overnight.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to an 8-inch square, about 1/2 inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut dough horizontally into 1-inch strips. Working with one strip at a time, cut crosswise on the bias into 5 equal diamonds (you should make 6 cuts). Reroll scraps once and form additional cookies, if desired. Transfer cookies to two parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced about 1 inch apart. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
Lightly beat reserved egg white. Brush tops of cookies with egg white and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until lightly golden around edges, about 22 minutes. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.