Tangerine Scented Almond Cookies Recipes

TANGERINE-SCENTED ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Peel the tangerines and place the peels in a small saucepan. Add cold water to cover and bring to a boil. Drain the peels, add fresh cold water to cover and bring to a boil again. Drain, rinse under cold running water and drain again. Dry completely with paper towels.
• In a food processor, combine the almonds and tangerine peels and process until finely ground. Strain the juices from the tangerines through a sieve set over a bowl, pressing against the fruit to release all the juice.
• In a large saucepan, combine the almond mixture, granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of the tangerine juice and simmer, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved, about 7 minutes. Let cool.
• Shape tablespoon-size portions of the mixture into 1 1/2-inch-thick pear shapes, wetting your fingers with the remaining tangerine juice to keep the dough from sticking to your hands. Dredge each cookie in confectioners' sugar to coat. Wrap the cookies individually in cellophane or cover tightly in a container. Let stand 3 days before serving. They will keep for 7 to 10 days.

CANNOLI WITH TANGERINE-ALMOND FILLING

Steps:

• For the shells: Combine the flour, cinnamon, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Work in the lard and slowly add the marsala. Knead together with fingers until the dough comes together. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes. Form the dough into a disk and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
• Set the smooth rollers of a pasta maker at the widest setting. Unwrap the dough and cut in half. Lightly flour 1 half (keep the remaining half covered with plastic wrap). Flatten the floured dough into an oval and feed through the rollers. Turn the dial down 2 notches and feed the dough through the rollers again. Fold the dough back to its original oval shape and repeat the process of putting the dough through the pasta rollers. Continue to feed the dough through the rollers, making the space between the rollers narrower by 2 notches each time, until the dough reaches a thickness of roughly 1/8 inch.
• Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Transfer the rolled dough to a lightly floured surface and cut out 4 or 5 rounds with a floured 4-inch round cutter. Transfer the rounds to a baking sheet and keep covered with more plastic wrap. Roll out the remaining dough and cut rounds in the same manner. Gather the scraps and let stand 10 minutes. Roll out the scraps and cut in the same manner.
• Heat several inches of oil in a large Dutch oven until it registers 350 degrees F. Lightly spray the cannoli tubes with nonstick spray.
• Brush the bottom edge of 1 dough round with the egg white. Wrap the dough around a tube, overlapping the ends (egg white edge should go on top), and then press the edges together to seal. Make 5 more shells in the same manner (keep remaining rounds covered with plastic).
• Fry the dough on the tubes one at a time, turning with metal tongs, until it is one shade darker, about 45 seconds. Wearing oven mitts, clamp the end of the hot tubes with tongs, 1 at a time, and, holding the tube vertically, allow the shell to slide off the tube onto paper towels, gently shaking the tube and wiggling the shell as needed to loosen. (If you allow the shell to cool it will stick to the tube and shatter when you try to remove it.) Transfer the shells to paper towels to drain and cool the tubes before reusing. Wrap the remaining dough around the tubes and fry in the same manner.
• For the filling: Combine the heavy cream and tangerine zest in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat.
• Combine the sugar and tangerine juice in a medium saucepan and cook until deep amber colored. Slowly whisk in the cream mixture and cook until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and let cool and thicken slightly.
• Combine the drained ricotta and cream cheese in the bowl of a mixer, add a few tablespoons of confectioners' sugar to sweeten, and beat until light and fluffy. Fold in the tangerine caramel sauce.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and fill the cannoli shells. Dip the ends in the almonds and chocolate and dust with confectioners' sugar.

TANGERINE-SCENTED ALMOND COOKIES (AMYGDALOTA ME MANDARINI)

Steps:

• Peel tangerines and place the peels in a saucepan. Set the tangerines aside. Add enough cold water to cover the peels and bring to a boil. Drain the peels, and add fresh cold water to cover them, and bring them to the boil again. Drain and rinse with cold running water. Dry completely with paper towels.
• Combine the almonds and tangerine peels in the food processor and pulse repeatedly until they are finely ground.
• Juice the tangerine fruit by placing them in a sieve set over a bowl, and pressing against the fruit to mash and release all the juice.
• Combine the almond mixture, sugar and 2/3 cup of the tangerine juice in a large saucepan, and simmer, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved - about 7 minutes. Let cool.
• Shape the mixture into tablespoon size portions, making a pear shape of about 1 1/2". Wet your fingers with remaining tangerine juice to make the job easier. Dredge each cookie in confectioner's sugar to coat. Wrap individually in cellophane, colored plastic wrap, or just place in a single layer in a container with a lid. Let stand 3 days before serving.

TANGERINE-RICOTTA DROP COOKIES

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the granulated sugar and eggs in a large bowl with a mixer on high speed until pale and very thick, about 5 minutes. Add the ricotta, olive oil, 1 teaspoon tangerine zest and the vanilla and almond extracts; beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture until just combined. The dough will be loose - similar to a thick cake batter.
• Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies spring back when gently pressed, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheets.
• Make the glaze: Whisk the confectioners' sugar, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon tangerine zest and 2 tablespoons hot water until smooth, adding up to 1 more tablespoon hot water if needed. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of the glaze over each cookie and spread with the back of the spoon. Decorate with nonpareils. Let set, 30 minutes.

LEMON-SCENTED GINGER ALMOND CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until golden, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove almonds to a shallow bowl to cool. Turn off oven.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flour, sugar, ginger, lemon zest, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add butter, molasses, and lemon and vanilla extracts, and beat until combined. With a wooden spoon, stir in almonds and crystallized ginger.
• Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 7-by-3-inch rectangle about 1 1/4 inches thick. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until very firm, about 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with Silpats (nonstick French baking mats) or parchment paper.
• Using a sharp knife, cut rectangles crosswise into very thin slices, thinner than 1/8 inch, if possible. Arrange on prepared baking sheets 1/2 inch apart. Bake until just beginning to darken around edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer crisps to wire racks to cool.

TANGERINE AND ALMOND SHORTBREAD TART

Steps:

• Zest and juice tangerines. Set zest aside and transfer juice to refrigerator until chilled.
• Line the bottom of a 10-inch round tart pan with removable bottom with a parchment paper round; butter parchment and set aside.
• Place flour, confectioners' sugar, salt, butter, and tangerine zest in the bowl of a food processor; pulse to combine. Add 4 tablespoons chilled tangerine juice, one tablespoon at a time, until mixture begins to look like wet sand; continue pulsing until dough comes together.
• Transfer dough to prepared tart pan and gently press dough into bottom of pan and up sides. Transfer to refrigerator and let chill for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place superfine sugar, brown sugar, honey, and 2 teaspoons tangerine juice in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, swirling gently, until sugar and honey are melted. Continue cooking until mixture caramelizes, 5 to 7 minutes, brushing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in any remaining tangerine juice or water to prevent crystallization.
• Add heavy cream and increase heat to medium; bring mixture to a low boil and cook until thick and caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in almonds; spread mixture into chilled tart crust.
• Place tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer tart to oven; bake for 30 minutes. Decrease temperature to 350 degrees and bake until crust is browned, about 15 minutes more. Remove from oven and let tart cool completely. Remove tart from pan; remove bottom and parchment and serve with whipped cream; garnish with mint.

CHEWY TANGERINE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In a small saucepan, bring corn syrup to a boil; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Beat in egg and tangerine zest. Combine the flour, baking soda, cloves, nutmeg and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with floured 2-1/2-in. cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool.

TANGERINE SEMIFREDDO WITH SALTED ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• For brittle:
• Coat large rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon butter. Combine sugar, corn syrup, 1 cup water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Attach candy thermometer to side of pan. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to boil. Boil without stirring until mixture turns amber and thermometer registers 330°F to 340°F, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; immediately stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then almonds and baking soda (mixture will bubble). Working quickly, pour mixture out onto prepared baking sheet. Using offset metal spatula, quickly spread mixture into irregular 15x10-inch rectangle. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sea salt evenly over brittle. Cool brittle completely at room temperature until firm, about 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Break brittle into irregular pieces and store in airtight container.
• Coarsely chop enough brittle to measure 1 1/2 cups; store in airtight container while making semifreddo mixture.
• For semifreddo:
• Line 9x5x3-inch metal loaf pan with 2 layers of plastic wrap, leaving generous overhang on all sides. Fill large bowl with ice cubes and water. Whisk egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, tangerine juice, and tangerine peel in medium metal bowl. Set bowl with yolk mixture over saucepan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until mixture thickens and instant-read thermometer inserted into mixture registers 160&Deg;F, about 3 minutes. Remove bowl from over hot water and set over bowl with ice water. Using electric mixer, beat mixture until thick and cool, about 3 minutes. Remove bowl from over ice water.
• Beat cream in another large bowl until peaks form; set aside. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/3 of egg whites into yolk mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining whites in 2 additions. Fold in whipped cream in 2 additions until just incorporated.
• Spread 1/3 of semifreddo mixture (about 3 cups) evenly in loaf pan. Sprinkle 3/4 cup chopped brittle evenly over. Repeat layering with half of remaining semifreddo mixture; sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup brittle over, then spread remaining semifreddo mixture over (loaf pan will be very full and mixture will extend slightly over top of pan). Fold plastic wrap overhang over semifreddo to cover. Freeze overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.
• For sauce:
• Bring tangerine juice and honey to boil in heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Boil until mixture is syrupy and reduced to generous 1/3 cup, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl; cool completely. Stir in tangerine segments. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• Invert semifreddo onto platter. Remove plastic wrap. Dip large knife into hot water, wipe dry, then cut semifreddo crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices, dipping knife into water and wiping dry as needed. Place 1 slice on each plate. Spoon tangerine sauce alongside semifreddo and serve.
• Ingredient tip:
• Maldon sea salt has soft, pyramid-shaped crystals and a mild flavor. It's available at some specialty foods stores and from igourmet.com.