Japanese Rice Cookies Recipes

MISO RICE CEREAL COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Blend 3 cups of the rice cereal in a blender until it turns to powder, about 25 seconds. Transfer the rice cereal powder to a small bowl and add the corn flour, salt and baking soda; mix to combine. Set aside.
• Add the butter, miso paste and granulated sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Mix on medium-high speed for 5 full minutes, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula halfway through. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat on high for another 5 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add the rice cereal powder-corn flour mixture. Mix until just fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Just as you did with the rice cereal mixture, slowly pour the all-purpose flour into the dough. Stir on medium-high speed for 10 seconds. Then, use the spatula to gently fold the dough into itself, making sure to fully incorporate any remaining ingredients.
• Set aside two 10-by-15-inch (or similar) sheet pans. Layer each pan with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Form 12 balls with the dough about the size of a scoop of ice cream. Arrange 6 per sheet pan and use the back of a 1-cup measure to lightly flatten the tops of each cookie. Refrigerate for 1 hour and up to 24 hours covered with plastic wrap.
• When you are ready to bake your cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake the cookies for 16 minutes on the middle rack of the oven for even coloring. You will know they are ready when they form slightly crisp, golden edges. Here's a food stylist's trick: when you remove the cookies from the oven, you can use a large round metal cookie cutter or a quart container (larger than the size of the cookies) to mold the outside edges of the cookies to give them a perfect round shape. Let the cookies cool to room temperature.
• For the glaze: Combine the miso paste, 1 1/4 cups of the confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup of the sour cream and 2 tablespoons cold water in a blender. Mix on high until you get a smooth and glossy glaze. You may need to scrape down the sides of the blender with a spatula to loosen any remaining confectioners' sugar. Pour the icing into a small bowl and mix in the remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar with 2 tablespoons sour cream. Combine until no lumps remain. Set the glaze aside.
• Now, ice and decorate the cookies. For these cookies, I recommend dividing the glaze into two small bowls and adding a few drops of festive food coloring to one bowl. Not all food dyes are created equal, so make sure to read the package instructions before adding the food dye to your glaze. Lightly drizzle the glaze across the cookies. Then, top each cookie with a sprinkle of the remaining rice cereal. Leave the iced cookies uncovered until the glaze dries, 1 to 2 hours.

PERSIAN RICE COOKIES (NAAN BERENJI)

Steps:

• Mix together the canola oil and white sugar.
• Beat eggs and add along with the rose water to the sugar mixture.
• Add the white rice flour, baking powder and cardamom and blend into a thick dough.
• Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350F/180°C Line a cookie sheet with baking paper or oil lightly.
• Take a spoonful of dough the size of a walnut, roll into a ball between your palms, flatten slightly, and place on the cookie sheet. Repeat, leaving about an inch between cookies.
• Sprinkle the ground pistachios on top or poppy seeds if using.
• Place cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 15-22 minutes, or until firm and cracked on top. They should still be quite white but have a slight golden bottom.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the paper, and be careful these cookies crumble very easily.
• Store in an airtight container until serving.

IRANIAN RICE COOKIES (NAN-E BERENJI)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a fine sieve with four layers of cheesecloth and set over a small liquid measuring cup. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until beginning to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until foamy, stirring occasionally, until butter turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, and milk solids separate into brown specks that sink to bottom, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and strain through prepared sieve, leaving solids behind. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In another small saucepan over medium heat, stir together sugar and 2 tablespoons water until sugar has dissolved, then transfer to a large bowl. Let cool slightly, then add rose water and stir to combine.
• Add yolk to sugar mixture and whisk until light and slightly thickened. Continue whisking and slowly drizzle in strained brown butter until thick and fully incorporated. In a medium bowl, combine flours, cardamom, and salt. Add to brown butter mixture and stir until thoroughly incorporated.
• Roll dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced about 1 inch apart. Imprint each ball with the grooved side of a meat mallet, pressing to 1/4 inch thick. Dust mallet with rice flour as needed to prevent sticking. Bake, rotating halfway through, until edges of cookies just turn light golden, about 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.