Best Orange Currant Polenta Cookies Recipes

POLENTA COOKIES

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)

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.

POLENTA-PARMESAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, polenta, 1 teaspoon pepper, the baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in the cheese, then the egg. Mix in the flour mixture until the dough just comes together.
• Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Shape each piece into a log and wrap in the plastic. Press the sides of the logs against the counter to form compact square-sided logs, about 7 inches long and 1 inch wide. Freeze the logs until firm, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Stir the sanding sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Trim the ends of the logs. Cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices and arrange 1 inch apart on the prepared pans. Sprinkle with the sugar-pepper mixture.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are crisp and golden on the bottom, 12 to 16 minutes. Let cool completely on the pans.