Cardamom Cookies

Diplo-mom's Note:

This is an easy cookie recipe from Deborah Madison's, "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone". The cookies are lovely on their own with that wonderful cardamom bite. I also used this recipe as a pie crust and filled it with homemade pear ice cream. The combination of cardamom and pear was spectacular. To use as a "pie crust", I just pressed chilled dough on the bottom and up the sides of a 9" pie plate and then baked in a 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes. I let the crust cool completely before filling with the ice cream. Put the entire pie back in the freezer for a couple of hours to make sure ice cream hardened up again and then took out 20 minutes before slicing and serving. I then took the pie to an friend's for an India inspired pot luck.

• Total Time: 28 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 8 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 36 cookies

• 1/4 lb unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for tops
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 3/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups flour

Directions:

1. Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg yolk.
2. Stir in the cardamom, salt, and flour.
3. Divide the dough in two, roughly shape each piece into a log about 1 inch thick, then roll in plastic wrap or wax paper. Pull each log through you thumb and first finger to make it even and, if you prefer, longer and narrower.
4. Refrigerate until firm or freeze until ready to use.
5. Preheat oven to 375°F
6. Cut the dough into 1/4-inch rounds or diagonals and set themon cookie sheets at least 1 inch apart.
7. Bake until pale golden on top and lightly browned around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes.
8. Cool. Serve plain or dusted with confectioner's sugar.
9. Note: Time to Make does not include the time to chill the dough.

Reviews

[Mgnbos]

These are buttery and the cardamom flavor really shines. I used the entire egg based both on other reviews and that I have immediate use for one egg white. They weren't quite sweet enough for us though, definitely needed the powdered sugar topping. These would make an elegant and pleasing addition to any cookie tray.

[Erin R.]

What a gorgeous cookie recipe. I had a bit of trouble with the dough being too dry, and ended up using a whole egg plus a bit of milk to get it to form correctly. But what a taste! Buttery and rich, and that delicious, dusty cardamom flavor really comes through. I actually made this to use as a pie crust for a fresh strawberry pie I'm planning to make tomorrow, and I made drop cookies with the remaining dough. The flipping things are almost gone. Thanks a million for an excellent recipe.

[Baby Kato]

These cookies are wonderful, the perfect amount of cardamom and a great textures. The cookies were slightly dry, tender and spicy, the only sweetness comes from the icing sugar. The cookies are getting more flavorful as they sit...they are just wonderful, I will make a simple vanilla glaze for these cookies next time I make them. Thanks so much for sharing.