Venetian Butter Cookies Recipes

BUSSOLA COOKIES FROM BURANO {VENETIAN BUTTER COOKIES}

Steps:

• In one bowl, stir together the flour and sugar.
• Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut the butter into the flour mixture until crumbly.
• In a small bowl, stir together egg yolks, vanilla, and lemon zest.
• Add the egg yolks and mix until the dough comes together.
• Shape into a foot long cylinder and wrap well in plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Divide the dough in half, return one half to the refrigerator until needed.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Slice half the dough into 8 to 10 equal pieces, and roll each piece into a 6 to 7 inch long rope.
• Shape into a backward S.
• Place the shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheets and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Shape the remaining refrigerated dough and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and bake the cookies for 13 to 15 minutes or until the cookies just begin to brown on the bottom. (The cookies will crisp up as they bake)
• Cool completely and then store in an airtight container.

BURANELLI: VENETIAN BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt.
• In a small bowl, combine the sugar, lemon zest and orange zest. Using your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar, infusing the sugar with the oils from the zest.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 - 5 minutes. Pause and scrape the bowl a couple times to ensure even mixing.
• Add the egg yolks to the butter and sugar a couple at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Pour in the vanilla extract and the rum and stir to combine.
• With the mixer on low, gradually add in the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
• Shape the dough into a log on a sheet of plastic wrap. Wrap the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
• Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).
• Slice the dough into 30 equal pieces. Roll each into a rod using the palms of your hand or on the counter with the tips of your fingers. Shape each rod into an inverted 'S' and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake the cookies for 15-20 minutes at 175°C (350°F), until they're pale blond and just starting to turn golden at the edges.
• Let cool to room temperature before serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

VENETIAN BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with Silpat baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar. Beat on medium until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla, lemon zest, and salt. Beat to combine. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, until fully combined. Reduce speed to low, and add flour, 1 cup at a time, beating until fully combined
• Roll a walnut-size piece of dough into a ball, then roll out into a rope about 3 inches long and 1/4 inch in diameter. Shape into a decorative S. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, placing cookies about 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheet. Bake until firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

VENETIAN BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, then pour the mixture onto the kitchen bench.
• Make a well in the centre, then add the butter, egg yolks, rum (if using), and lemon zest.
• Work the mixture with your hands until it turns into a smooth dough.
• Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and leave in the fridge for 30 minutes. If you leave it overnight in the fridge, you'll need to take it out about 30 minutes before you start making the cookies.
• Pull walnut size pieces off the ball of dough. Squeeze and roll them gently between your hands until you get a sausage shaped about the thickness of your little finger that measure about 12 cm (5 inches). The length and thickness is to help you form the "s" shape. Gently form it into an "s" and lay it on a cookie tray covered in baking paper.
• Bake the biscuits at 180ºC (350ºF) for 10 - 12 minutes until golden-brown.
• Leave them on the tray to cool for a few minutes after taking them out of the oven so that they "set" a little, then transfer them to a wire grill to cool.

VENETIAN CORNMEAL COOKIES (ZALETI)

Steps:

• Combine currants and almond liqueur in a small bowl. Let soak until fruit is plump, 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg and egg yolk, lemon zest, and vanilla. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut butter into dry ingredients until coarse crumbs form. Add plumped currants and wet ingredients, gently stirring until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Shape into a flat square, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate 45 minutes or up to overnight.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to an 8-inch square, about 1/2 inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut dough horizontally into 1-inch strips. Working with one strip at a time, cut crosswise on the bias into 5 equal diamonds (you should make 6 cuts). Reroll scraps once and form additional cookies, if desired. Transfer cookies to two parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced about 1 inch apart. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Lightly beat reserved egg white. Brush tops of cookies with egg white and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until lightly golden around edges, about 22 minutes. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

VENETIANS

Steps:

• Grease 3 - 13 x 9 inch pans. Line with wax paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Combine almond paste, sugar, butter, egg yolks and almond extract. Beat for 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in flour and salt.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. With a wooden spoon, fold into the almond mixture.
• Divide dough into 3 -1 1/2 cup portions. Add red coloring to one of the portions, and green to the another. Spread the batter in the 3 separate prepared pans (keeping the colors separate).
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. (Each layer will be 1/4 inch thick). Remove cakes from pan immediately. Cool thoroughly.
• Stack layers in a 9 x 13 inch pan, spreading apricot jam between layers (no jam on top layer). Place second 9 x 13 inch pan on top and weigh down with two 5 pound bags of sugar or flour. Refrigerate overnight.
• Melt chocolate over hot water and spread over cake. Allow to set. Trim edges and cup into 1 inch squares.

VENICE BUTTER COOKIES (CITRUS BUTTER COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the zest, vanilla, and salt and mix until combined.
• Add the egg yolks one at time, mixing after each. Add the flour one cup at a time, mixing after each until just combined.
• Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball, then roll the ball into a long rope shape about 6 inches long. Shape into an "S" shape and place on the prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bake 12-15 minutes, or until cookies just begin to turn golden on the edges. Do not over bake. Cool on a wire rack.
• Cookies will keep in an airtight container for several days.

BUTTER COOKIES V

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the yolks one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Shape dough into logs about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate or freeze until firm.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Unwrap rolls. You can roll the logs in nuts or sprinkles before slicing. Slice into 3/8 inch wide slices. Place slices 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Do not brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

FINNISH BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. Gradually add 1-1/4 cups flour. Knead in remaining flour. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 in. thickness. Cut with a 1-1/2 to 2-in. cookie cutter; place on ungreased baking sheets. Beat egg white until foamy; brush over cutouts. Sprinkle with sugar and almonds. , Bake at 350° for 7-8 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool on wire racks.

VENETIAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" jelly-roll pans; line pans with waxed paper, allow waxed paper to extend over ends of pans. Grease and flour waxed paper.
• Beat egg whites with 1/2 cup sugar until stiff peaks form; set aside.
• In large bowl with same beaters (no need to wash them), with mixer at low speed, beat almond paste and remaining 1/2 cup sugar until it forms small lumps.
• Beat in margarine or butter until blended. Beat in egg yolks and almond extract. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour and salt just until combined.
• With rubber or silicone spatula, fold egg whites into almond mixture, one-third at a time, until combined.
• Remove one third of batter (about 1 1/2 rounded cups) to a small bowl. Remove half of remaining batter to another small bowl. You should have equal amounts of batter in all three bowls.
• Stir red food coloring into one bowl of batter (5 drops for pastel, 20 drops for dark color).
• Stir green food coloring into second bowl of batter.
• Leave the third bowl uncolored.
• Spread batter into the three pans (one color per pan). With offset metal spatula, spread batter as evenly as possible; each layer will be about 1/8" thick.
• Bake layers 10-13 minutes, rotating pany halfway through cooking time, until layers are just set. Watch closely, you want this to be slightly undercooked.
• Let layers cool 5 minutes in pans on wire racks. Invert layers onto racks; leave waxed paper attached; cool completely.
• When all 3 layers have cooled, place green layer on a platter, remove waxed paper; spread with half of the apricot preserves. Place white layer on top of the green layer, waxed paper side up; remove waxed paper. Spread with remaining apricot preserves. Place red layer on top of white layer; remove waxed paper. Press down gently over entire surface to make sure all layers are firmly attached to each other.
• With a serrated knife, trim edges about 1/4" from each side (cooks' treat). Spread melted chocolate on top of red layer (not on sides). Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Cut layers lengthwise into 6 strips. Cut each strip into 12 small rectangles.
• Store cookies in refrigerator in a covered container, with waxed paper between layers.