When Kate and I discussed the initial #FirstOnTheFirst challenge for 2013, we decided to select something easy. Something that people probably haven’t made before, but that wouldn’t be too daunting of a task, so as not to scare anybody off. Something to instill confidence and get the year started off on the right foot. Thus came florentines. Delicate, crunchy cookies that add a little sense of culture. Fancy without being fussy. My kind of treat.
When I said florentines, I meant lace cookies–cookies spread out so they look like a doily with the holes in them–so I made Oatmeal Lace Cookies. Which are kind of like florentines, but not really. More like every oatmeal cookie I have ever tried to make, as I am notorious for my dough spreading an obscene amount and making me look like a darn fool. I never seem to manage plump, chewy oatmeal cookies. This was in the bag!
And it was. Really. I can’t complain about the process. The batter came together really quickly. It was a little tedious portioning out only 6 cookies at a time, but after seeing Kate’s Florentine Brittle, I was a little on edge and not in the mood for the equivalent of lacy oatmeal bar cookies. There’s just one thing. I skimped on the butter. By half.
No wonder why it seemed like it went so well!
I don’t think you’ll miss it. (Which is why I left it out in the recipe below.) While these could have been lacier looking, the taste is spot-on in that sweet spot between cookie and candy–caramelized goodness that is hard to put down. Make sure you have a place where you can share these–5 dozen is far too many to eat all by yourself! (And if you can’t, the freezer will hold them for you until you’re ready for them.)
- ½ cup (8 Tablespoons) unsalted Kerrygold butter, softened
- ½ cup vanilla sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 6 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt, finely ground
- 2 cups old fashioned oats (not quick oats)
- ¾ cup white chocolate morsels
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars, beating until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
- Add the extracts and mix until just combined.
- Add the flour, salt, and oats, mixing on low until just combined. Stir in the white chocolate by hand, being careful not to overmix.
- Portion out the dough with a teaspoon, being careful not to place too much. Space at least 2 inches apart on sheet.
- Bake one sheet at a time for 9-11 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and leave on sheet for 8 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Next month we’ll be decorating cakes. I’m shaking just thinking about it. I am an eater, not a decorator, so this will be interesting… Take on a new cake decorating technique and join us! We’ll be posting on March 1st at noon. Check the First on the First tab above for more details.
How did everyone else do with this challenge?
Disclosure: I am member of the Kerrygold Food Blogger Network and was provided with free Kerrygold unsalted butter, which was used to make this recipe. All opinions and photographs remain my own, unless otherwise stated.
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
poetinthepantry
9 comments
Skip to comment form ↓
Alyssa {Suitcases & Sweets}
1 February, 2013 at 12:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Gorgeous! I am super impressed with your perfectly sized and shaped Florentines! I had to rely Nutella to camouflage my lack of patience and consequent nonuniformity.
http://suitcasesandsweets.com/2013/02/01/florentine-cookies/
Alyssa {Suitcases & Sweets} recently posted..“First On The First”: Florentine Cookies
Carrie @ poet in the pantry
2 February, 2013 at 12:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Trust me, most of them were not perfectly shaped. Camouflaging with Nutella certainly isn’t the end of the world!
Anna (Hidden Ponies)
1 February, 2013 at 12:37 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I saw some oatmeal versions and opted to go with the classic – I think I would actually much prefer your oat verson, these sound delicious!
Anna (Hidden Ponies) recently posted..Florentine Cookies for #FirstontheFirst
Carrie @ poet in the pantry
2 February, 2013 at 12:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Regardless, yours are gorgeous! (I’m with you, though–I prefer thicker, chewier cookies.)
Kate | Food Babbles
1 February, 2013 at 5:04 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Your florentines turn out perfect! I’m thinking perhaps I should have used a recipe that called for oats. Maybe that would have lent a hand in making mine successful
Love the orange extract and white chocolate morsels in yours too! Yum! I bet these were delicious.
Kate | Food Babbles recently posted..Florentine Brittle – #FirstOnTheFirst
Carrie @ poet in the pantry
2 February, 2013 at 12:55 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think it’s the fact that I forgot half the butter that helped. That gave them less of an opportunity to spread out, because even these spread quite a bit. They were a big hit at work, so I guess I can’t complain. I just didn’t expect these to be so challenging for everyone!
Karen Hartzell (@InTheKitchenKP)
2 February, 2013 at 9:19 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
These look delicious! I love oatmeal cookies, and this recipe intensifies my love. Did you edit your recipe in the print version to be half of the butter, or did you actually only use 1/4 cup?
Karen Hartzell (@InTheKitchenKP) recently posted..Chocolate Peanut Butter Layered Bundt Cake #BundAMonth
Carrie @ poet in the pantry
2 February, 2013 at 9:20 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The version below is the edited, one-half butter version.
Why mess with it if it works, right?
Melissa
2 February, 2013 at 9:36 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Your cookies sound delicious! I bet the orange extract makes them taste amazing! Great pick! Sorry my post was late this month. I just added it this morning…