Earl Grey Maple Gingerbread Recipes

EARL GREY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Pulse the tea leaves briefly in a spice grinder until ground but not powdery. Transfer to a medium bowl and whisk in the flour and salt.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add 2 1/2 cups confectioners¿ sugar and the vanilla and beat until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until smooth, about 1 more minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture, then increase the speed to medium and beat until just combined.
• Scrape the dough into the prepared pan. Lay a piece of plastic wrap on top and press the dough evenly into the pan; remove the plastic wrap. Bake until the shortbread is firm and the edges are just light golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 20 minutes in the pan. Gently lift the shortbread out of the pan using the foil overhang. Slice into 1 1/2-inch squares. Transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Whisk the remaining 1 cup confectioners¿ sugar and the milk in a bowl until smooth; drizzle over the shortbread. Sprinkle with coarse sugar and let set, 20 to 30 minutes.

EARL GREY-MAPLE GINGERBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 13x9-inch baking pan.
• Whisk eggs, maple syrup, sour cream, and butter together in a bowl. Whisk flour, tea, ginger, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl; pour egg mixture into flour mixture and stir until all ingredients are moist. Spread cake mixture evenly into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes; remove pan to cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares, about 30 minutes.

EARL GREY BLONDIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides; coat the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
• Pulse the brown sugar, granulated sugar and tea in a food processor until the tea leaves are finely chopped into a fine powder and evenly dispersed. Set aside.
• Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook, whisking occasionally, until brown flecks appear, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately whisk in the sugar-tea mixture and the maple syrup. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
• Fold the brown butter-egg mixture into the flour mixture with a rubber spatula, then fold in the chocolate chips. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely in the pan.
• Lift the blondies out of the pan using the foil overhang; discard the foil. Cut into small squares and serve.

EARL GREY WOODLAND COOKIE COTTAGE

Steps:

• Cottage: Let dough stand at room temperature until pliable. On separate lightly floured pieces of parchment, roll out each rectangle of dough about 1/8 inch thick. Transfer dough on parchment to baking sheets and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Place templates on top; cut out all shapes with a sharp paring knife. Transfer panels to parchment-lined baking sheets and refrigerate until firm. Meanwhile, reroll scraps 1/8-inch thick and refrigerate until firm. Using a ruler and a pizza cutter or sharp paring knife, slice 20 "timbers," each 1/4-inch thick, from rerolled dough.
• Transfer timbers to another parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. (Try to arrange timbers to be as straight as possible; if too soft, refrigerate until firm, then transfer to sheet.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Using the side of a ruler, score 9 horizontal lines on each roof piece of dough (making an impression but not cutting all the way through). Using the dull side of a butter knife, create "shingles" by making vertical marks every 1/2 inch, staggering with each row.
• Bake 2 sheets of panels at a time, rotating once, until edges turn light golden, 14 to 16 minutes. Bake timbers until edges turn light golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer baked pieces to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• Caramel Windows and Door Pane: Place 2 wall templates and front template under parchment or 2 silicone baking mats (for added texture); this will be your guide. Pour 1/2 cup water into a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved and syrup is clear.
• Continue to cook, without stirring, but washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush two or three times to prevent crystals from forming, until syrup comes to a boil. Let boil, swirling pan occasionally, until light amber, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Using a small dry measuring cup, pour enough caramel onto parchment to extend about 1/2 inch beyond each window or door frame on template. Let cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• Fill a piping bag fitted with a small round tip (such as Ateco #4) with royal icing. Using a serrated knife, gently cut timbers with a sawing motion to create design for each panel. (Refer to template.) Pipe back of each timber with royal icing; attach in place. Pipe a thin line of royal icing around perimeter of each caramel window or door pane; press gently to secure to inside of corresponding panel. Let icing set completely, about 1 hour.
• Assembly: Make another batch of caramel, following instructions in step 3. Dip one side edge of a wall panel in it; allow excess to drip off. Working quickly (before caramel hardens), join coated edge of wall panel to front panel, forming a corner; press firmly to adhere. Repeat with remaining wall panel and back panel. (You will now have 2 corner pieces.)
• Using a pastry brush, brush edge of each wall panel with caramel; press firmly to adhere to front and back panels. (You will now have a square house; if at any point during assembly caramel begins to harden, gently reheat over low.) Brush more caramel over top edges of back and front panel. Immediately attach roof pieces to coated panels, making sure they are centered and evenly aligned (there should be an overhang of about 1/2 inch). Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer cottage to a large platter or cake stand. To illuminate, set LED votives inside. Pour sanding sugar around cottage, creating deeper "snowdrifts" by walls. Sift confectioners' sugar over roof. Arrange rosemary trees and gum-paste mushrooms around cottage. Hang thyme wreath using bakers' twine or fishing line.