White White White Recipes

BLACK AND WHITE COOKIES

Steps:

• Make the cookies: Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350˚ F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl until combined.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla, beating well after each addition.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat half of the flour mixture into the butter mixture until just combined. Beat in the sour cream, then beat in the remaining flour mixture.
• Using a large ice cream scoop or 1/4 cup measure, scoop mounds of dough and place 3 inches apart on the baking sheets (6 cookies per pan). Bake, rotating and switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are puffed and the bottoms and edges are just starting to brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the pans, then remove the cookies to a rack to cool completely.
• Make the icing: Sift the confectioners' sugar into a large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons milk, the corn syrup and vanilla and whisk until smooth and very thick but still spreadable. Remove half of the icing (about 1/2 cup) to a separate bowl and stir in the cocoa powder until smooth, thinning with up to 1 tablespoon milk, if needed.
• Turn the cookies flat-side up. Using a small offset spatula, spread the white icing on half of each cookie, making a straight, clean line in the center of the cookie. Return the cookies to the rack, and let sit, preferably in a cool place, until the icing is firm with a matte finish, at least 30 minutes. Spread the chocolate icing on the other half of the cookies. Let the icing set at room temperature, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

ULTIMATE WHITE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and position a rack in the middle of the oven. Line one 12-cup standard muffin tin with cupcake liners.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Stir the milk and vanilla together in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer).
• Mix on low speed until the butter is smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup of the sugar. Increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add about one-third of the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Add half the milk mixture and beat until smooth. Repeat, adding flour, then milk, and then the rest of the flour, stopping and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat briefly to make a smooth batter.
• Put the egg whites in a clean bowl. Whip on high speed until foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue to beat until the egg whites are glossy and hold stiff peaks, about 10 minutes. Fold the whites into the batter in three batches. Divide the cake batter evenly between the liners.
• Bake until a tester inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, rotating the tin about halfway through, about 20 minutes.
• Cool the cupcakes on a rack in the tin for 10 minutes, and then remove from the tin. Cool on the rack completely.

BLACK AND WHITE PINWHEEL COOKIES

Steps:

• Put the flour, icing sugar, vanilla sugar, a pinch of salt, egg and soft butter in a stand mixer and mix. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured worksurface and knead briefly by hand. Cut the dough in half. Wrap one half and chill for an hour. Knead the cocoa and milk into the other half. Wrap and chill for an hour.
• Roll each batch of dough into a rectangle (about 30cm x 20cm) on a lightly floured worksurface. Coat the top of one layer with egg white then lift the other colour of dough on top and coat the top with egg white. Roll up tightly like a Swiss roll. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
• Heat the oven to 175C/fan 155C/gas 3½. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment. Cut the dough into slices about 5mm thick with a sharp knife. Bake in batches for 10-12 minutes, but don't let the pale dough darken as you want to keep the contrast. Allow to cool completely.

SIMPLE WHITE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Line a 12-muffin pan with paper liners.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
• Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
• Stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the liners.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

MAPLE WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Place milk, maple syrup, butter and salt in a saucepan and scald. Allow to cool to lukewarm.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water along with the sugar. Set aside for five minutes until the mixture becomes frothy. Transfer the milk mixture to a large bowl, stir in the yeast mixture and then stir in the egg.
• Stir in two cups of the flour. Then add more flour about one-half cup at a time until a ball of dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead for about eight minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic, adding more flour as necessary to keep the dough from sticking. Place dough in an oiled bowl, turn the dough to oil on all sides, cover lightly and set aside to rise until doubled, about an hour.
• Punch down dough, turn onto a lightly floured board and knead for another minute or so. Roll dough into a rectangle about nine by 12 inches, then roll tightly, jellyroll fashion, starting from the narrow side. Pinch the seam and ends closed. Fit the dough seam side down into a greased 9-by-5-by-3-inch baking pan.
• Cover and set in a warm place to rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread in the oven and bake about 45 minutes, until well browned. Remove from pan and allow to cool freely on a rack before slicing.

WHITE BEAN PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet (preferably straight-sided) over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini and 1 teaspoon salt, and stir, then cook undisturbed in an even layer until one side is golden, about 4 minutes. (It's great if the butter browns, but decrease the heat if it threatens to get too dark.) Stir in the asparagus, carrot and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the peas, scallions and ½ teaspoon salt, then add the red-pepper flakes, oregano and a generous amount of black pepper. Cook, stirring, until the peas are warmed through and bright green, about 2 minutes.
• Add the white beans and the cream, lower the heat to medium, and let the cream come to a simmer. Simmer for about 1 minute.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice, Parmesan and Dijon. Taste and season with more salt, pepper or lemon juice as needed. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of warm water to the creamy beans to loosen as you like; the sauce will thicken as it cools. (You may need more water when you reheat any leftovers.) Serve in bowls topped with the nuts and a handful of basil leaves. Pass more Parmesan at the table.

SIMPLE WHITE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.