Cookies with Smarties are soft, cookies scented with orange, very nice to look at and easy to prepare. These cookies are part of the traditional Carnival sweets. They are also known as Harlequin cookies, because the colors of the Smarties resemble the multicolored costume of Harlequin. If you like orange-flavored sweets, you definitely need to try these cookies.
Smarties cookies are very popular with children because they are colorful and the colorful chocolate candies on top are absolutely irresistible. Therefore, they don’t necessarily have to be prepared during the Carnival period, but they are also perfect sweet treats all year round for children’s parties or birthdays.
They are very easy to prepare. For convenience, I prepared them with the Bimby, but any kitchen mixer or blender will do. You won’t need rolling pins or cookie cutters because the dough is soft and can be shaped simply with your hands.
Well then, let’s move on to the recipe and see how to make these delicious cookies with Smarties or Harlequin cookies. But first, I’ll leave you with some links to other delicious recipes you might be interested in.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Rest time: 1 Hour
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 17 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, Carnival
- Energy 144.44 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 16.54 (g) of which sugars 8.82 (g)
- Proteins 2.49 (g)
- Fat 7.81 (g) of which saturated 3.21 (g)of which unsaturated 1.82 (g)
- Fibers 0.74 (g)
- Sodium 27.89 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 32 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Cookies with Smarties
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 7 tbsps butter (soft)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup blanched almonds (chopped)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 orange zest (grated)
- 1/3 cup colored candies
Tools for Preparing Cookies with Smarties
- Mixer
- Grater
- Baking Tray
- Food Scale
- Bowl
- Plastic Wrap
- Parchment Paper
Steps for Preparing Cookies with Smarties
Let’s see together how to make these delicious cookies with Smarties.
Take the butter and egg out of the fridge at least an hour before starting to make the cookies. The butter must be very soft.
Put the zest of half an orange and the blanched almonds in the mixer.
Add the sugar as well.
Blend for a few seconds at high speed until they are pulverized. Gather the entire mixture onto the base with a spatula.
Add the softened butter in pieces.
Work at low speed until a creamy mixture is formed.
Add the egg and mix it with the other ingredients, stirring for a few seconds.
Add the flour, a pinch of salt, and the sifted baking powder.
Continue working the mixture until you get a soft and very sticky dough. It should not have the consistency of classic shortcrust pastry.
With the help of a spatula, place the dough in a bowl, cover it with some plastic wrap, and put it in the fridge for an hour. Once taken out, the dough will still be soft, but less sticky and more workable.
With slightly oiled hands, take small portions of dough and form balls. I chose to weigh them and make them all 30 g, but if you want smaller cookies, you can weigh balls of 20 g as well (in this case, you should also reduce the baking time).
Slightly flatten the balls between the palms of your hands and place your cookies on a baking tray covered with parchment paper. Space them out well because they will spread during baking.
Decorate your cookies with Smarties, pressing slightly to embed them in the dough.
Place the cookies in the fridge for another half hour.
Preheat the oven to 340°F fan, and once it reaches temperature, bake one tray at a time for about 12-13 minutes. Adjust to your oven; as soon as they start to brown, take them out of the oven and let them cool on the tray without touching them.
Once ready, store them in a tin box, so you can enjoy your Smarties cookies whenever you crave something sweet!
Storage and Variations
– Harlequin cookies with Smarties can be stored for a few days in a closed container or a tin box.
– You can substitute the orange zest with lemon zest or with vanillin or vanilla extract.
– Besides using Smarties, you can also decorate your cookies with colored sprinkles.
– You can also make them in the cocoa version by replacing 20 g of flour with 20 g of unsweetened cocoa powder.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I substitute butter with oil?
I have never tried, but I believe it’s better not to do so. If you have lactose issues, you can use lactose-free butter or margarine (the block type, not the spreadable one).
Can I use almond flour instead of blanched almonds?
Yes, of course. For a more rustic taste, you can also use almonds with the skin on.
