Lemon Hazelnut Spritz Recipes

HAZELNUT SPRITZ

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper. A plain baking sheet need not be greased.
• Put the nuts into the food processor and grind them until very fine. In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until light. Add the ground nuts and flour. Mix until smooth. Put the dough into a cookie press with a star or ridged tip and press into long, narrow strips. Cut into 4-inch pieces. Shape the strips into rings and place on the baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes, just until lightly browned. Slide baked cookies on the parchment off the baking sheet onto the countertop to cool, or place onto a wire rack to cool.
• While the cookies bake, combine the chocolate chips and cream in a small glass bowl. Microwave at high power 1 minute at a time, or place over simmering water, stirring until melted. Dip cooled cookies in the chocolate so that ends are coated by 1/2 inch. Place on the parchment or on waxed paper to harden.

LEMON HAZELNUT TIRAMISU

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine lemon juice, water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Take the pan off the heat and allow the syrup to cool.;
• Whip the cream in a large bowl until thick. Add the cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of the sugar and continue to whip until the cream holds soft peaks. In another bowl, cream together remaining sugar and mascarpone cheese for 30 seconds. Mix 1/4 of the cream into the mascarpone. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the remaining whipped cream. Set aside.
• Place the hazelnut liqueur in a small shallow bowl. Dip 16 of the ladyfinger cookies in the hazelnut liqueur and line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch serving dish or other decorative serving dish. Spoon any remaining hazelnut liqueur over the dipped cookies. Spread 1/3 of the mascarpone mixture over the cookies. Top with 1/3 of the hazelnuts.
• Place the lemon syrup in a small shallow bowl. Dip 16 of the ladyfinger cookies in the syrup and place on top of the hazelnuts. Spread 1/3 of the mascarpone mixture over the cookies. Top with 1/3 hazelnuts. Dip remaining cookies in remaining syrup and place on top. Spoon any remaining syrup over the dipped cookies. Spread with remaining mascarpone and top with remaining hazelnuts and lemon zest.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or preferably overnight. Remove the tiramisu from the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving.

LEMON SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter, granulated sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg and both extracts. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture until just combined.
• Fill a cookie press with the dough according to the manufacturer?s directions; press the dough 1 1/2 inches apart onto unlined baking sheets. Decorate with sanding sugar and/or nonpareils.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are golden around the edges, 14 to 17 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the pans, then transfer to racks to cool completely.