Scented with orange and coated with a hint of dark chocolate, these little shortcrust pastry sticks are perfect for gifting or enjoying with a cup of tea during winter afternoons.
A simple, crumbly, and Christmas-scented treat that you can pack in small transparent bags with red ribbons and handmade tags 🎀
Ideal to include in my Culinary Advent Calendar as a daily treat or homemade gift to hang on the tree.
These are fragrant and delicious little cookies, really very good, which you can decorate if you think about the next Christmas, using royal icing, sugar sprinkles, and chopped nuts like hazelnuts and pistachios.
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I have opened a channel of recipes open to everyone and free on WhatsApp with no notifications and no sound, which you can subscribe to by clicking the link here https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaHbGIn9cDDig7Cw2x0F and every day you can read a sweet and a savory recipe!
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Always on the THEME of Christmas cookie recipes, here are more suggestions just below:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 1 Hour
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 15 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Christmas
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup butter (cold, cubed)
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 orange (organic zest, grated)
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder (optional, I added it!)
- 3 oz dark chocolate (melted, even a little more about 3.5 oz)
- 1/2 tsp vegetable oil (to make the chocolate shinier)
Tools
- Parchment paper
- Baking pans
- Microwave ovens
Steps
In a bowl, mix flour, powdered sugar, orange zest, and a pinch of salt.
Then add the cold butter and work quickly until you get a sandy mixture.
Add the egg yolk and orange juice, knead just enough to form a dough ball without warming the butter too much.
Let these orange shortcrust pastry sticks rest in the fridge for about 30-40 minutes.
After the resting time, roll out the pastry to 1/4 inch thick, cut sticks 3-4 inches long and 5/8-3/4 inch wide. As always, I am not too precise hehe!
Bake the shortcrust matchsticks at 350°F static for 10-13 minutes, until they are just golden.
Cool well, then dip one end in dark chocolate, melted in the microwave or double boiler.
Let solidify on parchment paper or in the fridge for about 10 minutes.I confess I ate quite a few because in their simplicity they are delicious!!!!!!!!!!
Bon appétit! Annalisa
Storage and Useful Tips
The shortcrust matchsticks keep perfectly for 7-10 days when stored in a tin box or an airtight container, kept in a cool and dry place, away from heat sources and direct light.
If you want to gift them and remember that Christmas is coming, you can pack them in transparent food bags, tied with a red ribbon and perhaps accompanied by a handmade tag, making them a simple yet much appreciated Christmas gift.
Avoid storing them in the fridge because moisture could make the pastry lose its crispness and would definitely make the chocolate dull.
Extra Secret 👉 To keep them crumbly longer, add a small sheet of clean absorbent paper to the container to help absorb residual moisture.
