The Ninja Baker - #CookieWeek

Miso Sesame Cookies, #CookieWeek

NinjaBaker — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:30:47 +0000

Miso – a fermented soybean/rice/barley/salt mixture – is often seen in savory Japanese cuisine. The salty character of miso complements corn, salmon and provides the base for a myriad of miso soup recipes. I’d bet that miso is found in the kitchen of almost every household in Japan…Speaking of gambling, for this #CookieWeek post I used miso for a sweet Miso Sesame Cookie.

Miso Sesame Cookies

I took an even bigger risk by altering the original miso cookie recipe by culinary maestro, Ann Low and making it gluten-free. As one whose risk-taking has not always paid off, I was a tad nervous. But I kept breathing; reminding myself to trust my intuition and previous experiences baking gluten-free treats. The result? A buttery cookie with a delicate crumb. The sesame seed flavor was subtle and added a nice nuttiness. The miso provided the salt needed to highlight the sweeter ingredients.

A Perfect Companion to Tea: Miso Sesame Cookies

Happy to say my gluten-free miso sesame cookie was very similar to the sesame sablé cookies created by Chef Keiko Nojima of Patisserie Chantilly in Southern California. Yay! What a wonderful way to wind down #CookieWeek hosted by Susan of Girl in the Little Red Kitchen and Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic. Just in case you missed Monday’s post, you still have time to win some wonderful #CookieWeek prizes from KitchenAid, King Arthur, OXO, Silpat and Zulka Sugar. Click here for details.

Miso Sesame Cookies

Miso Sesame Cookies are light, delicate butter cookies sprinkled with a subtle, nutty sesame flavor. Perfect for the ladies-who-lunch crowd and teatime!

This recipe is adapted from the Anncoo Journal.

Ingredients:

¼ cup softened butter
½ cup sugar
3 generous tablespoons of white miso
1½ cups rice flour blend
3 tablespoons corn flour
2 tablespoons amaranth flour
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions:

Beat butter and sugar until combined. Add miso. Continue to beat for about 3 minutes.
Whisk together the flours and sesame seeds.
Pour the flours and seeds into the butter, sugar, miso mixture. When thoroughly combined, place the dough onto wax paper. Form a log about one inch high. Refrigerate overnight.
Slice the log into ¼ inch thick rounds. Gently place them on Silpat covered or parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Bake for 16 minutes or until golden brown around the edges in a 360 degree oven.

Here are a few more recipes guaranteed to bring on the grins!

Bethmännchen cookies by Masala Herb Chewy Brigadeiro Pecan Bars by Food Lust People Love Chocolate Cookie Thumbprints with Sweet Pepper Jelly by Omeletta Chocolate-Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies by i heart eating Earl Grey Icebox Cookies by Crumb Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker Homemade Thin Mints by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies by Like Mother Like Daughter Miso Sesame Cookies by NinjaBaking.com Peppermint Cream Thumbprint Cookies by Beyond Frosting Salted Caramel Stuffed Toffee Chip Cookies by The Cooking Actress Sandwich Cookies by Texana's Kitchen Shortbread Christmas Mouse Cookies by Cravings of a Lunatic Giant Ginger Cookies by Jen's Favorite Cookies

Wishing you risk-taking tasks with delicious rewards!

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

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miso sesame cookie recipe

#CookieWeek

Nutella Cookies, #CookieWeek

NinjaBaker — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:24:29 +0000

Despite the infatuation with foreign imports, Nutella has yet to find popularity in Japanese markets. If in need of a Nutella fix, fans can purchase the beloved chocolate hazelnut spread. In cities where Japan sees the biggest tourist traffic – Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto – in select markets. (Expect to pay double what you pay for Nutella in America.)

Rich chocolate hazelnut is baked into a Nutella cookie.

I discovered the rich, creamy blend of chocolate and hazelnuts about two years ago. (After seeing Nutella recipes orbiting the food blogosphere.) To my surprise, I’ve only raved, I mean, written about Nutella a couple of times. Here are links to my Matcha Nutella Tango Cupcakes and M & M Nutella Bundt.

Maybe…just maybe…my spoonfuls of Nutella were busy traveling to my mouth instead of the mixing bowl. Motivated by master cookie baker / party experts and #CookieWeek hosts, Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Susan of The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen, I did successfully bake Nutella Cookies. Inspired by the pictures at VegetarianTimes.com, I frosted the cookies with a dollop of Nutella and dropped a hazelnut on top for garnish.

Nutella Cookies

Based on a Vegetarian Times recipe, this Nutella cookie is rich with chocolate hazelnut goodness....Caution: It may be hard to eat just one!

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup Nutella, plus more for "frosting"
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter or margarine, softened
¾ cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
36 whole blanched hazelnuts, for garnish

Directions:

1. In a bowl sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
2. With a handheld mixer beat the Nutella and butter until well combined. Add the brown sugar, then egg and vanilla extract. After all the ingredients are incorporated, pour in the dry ingredients. Mix well.
3. Wrap the dough in wax paper in a log shape. Refrigerate overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Using a mini ice cream scoop, make little patties with the chilled dough. Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies are firm and have lost a glossy wet look.
5. Cool. Drop a little mound of Nutella onto the centers of each cookie. Perch a hazelnut on top of the "frosting".

Click here to see how you can win all kinds of kitchen goodies for baking Nutella cookies or any of the following treats from #CookieWeek bloggers.

Black Forest Sandwich Cookies by Cravings of a Lunatic
Chewy Cocoa Fudge Cookies by Food Lust People Love
Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies by i heart eating
Macadamia and White Chocolate Chip Cookies by In The Kitchen With KP
Maple Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Cups by Beyond Frosting
Maple Cookies by Total Noms
kitchen-sink-cookies by Texana's Kitchen
Nutella Cookies by NinjaBaking.com
Nutmeg Logs by Love and Confections
Oatmeal Raisin by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
Peanut Butter Blossoms by Like Mother Like Daughter
Pumpkin and Apple Dog Cookies by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
Raspberry Streusel Bars by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting by Chocolate Moosey
Spicy Ginger Chews by Crumb
Vodka Cookies by Masala Herb

Nutella cookies made with love are meant for sharing.

Wishing you luxurious moments sharing cookies and conversations with loved ones.

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

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Nutella cookie recipe

#CookieWeek

Saketini Christmas Balls, #CookieWeek

NinjaBaker — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:12:08 +0000

Welcome to #cookieweek my little cookie monsters! Susan of The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen and Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic have joined together this week with 23 of their blog friends to present to you a week of cookie treats! We have every type of cookie you can think of listed this week, including something for our furry friends! Now is the time to bookmark these recipes for the upcoming holidays and cookie swaps or simply visit our Pinterest board! Make sure you enter the giveaway with some fabulous prizes from KitchenAid, King Arthur Flour, OXO, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar to help with your cookie making needs!

Saketini Christmas Balls:
A sake wine laden gift Santa will enjoy on Christmas Eve.

Cookie Week days are chock full of goodies to support scrumptious celebration of the holidays. Sweets are key to any party in Japan. However, no significant celebration is complete without sake rice wine. From ancient times, sake was offered up in gratitude to the gods after a bountiful harvest. Later, the Japanese government actually created a Department of Sake! One of Japan’s samurai leaders also decreed Itami - a region of Japan famous for its sake - as off limits for battle. (Allegedly he wanted to ensure the safety of his favorite sake.) Fast forward several centuries, sake is readily available for even impromptu celebrations like job promotions. At train stations, pop-top cans containing rice wine are sold alongside sodas and water in coin machines.

So, to properly celebrate the start of #CookieWeek, I felt compelled to contribute the Ninja Bakers Saketini Christmas Balls. (Saketini is easily made: 4 ounces of vanilla vodka stirred together with 2 teaspoons of sake rice wine.) Cheers! Or as we say in Japan, “kampai!”

Saketini Christmas Balls

Naughty...but sooo nice. Chocolate, crushed pecans, sake wine and vanilla vodka and cookies combine to create these sensational Christmas treats.

This recipe is adapted from a rum ball recipe at Taste of Home.

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups vanilla wafer crumbs plus additional for garnish
1 cup ground pecans
1 cup powdered sugar plus additional for garnish
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons cocoa powder (the kind you use for hot chocolate)
¼ cup Saketini
(4 ounces vanilla vodka plus 2 teaspoons sake wine;
you’ll have an extra sip or two for you)
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons water

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk together the wafer crumbs, pecans, powdered sugar, and cocoa.

Stir together the Saketini, honey and water. Microwave for 33 seconds to allow the honey to melt. Stir again. Pour into the crumb mixture.

Shape into small balls. Roll in additional powdered sugar and/or wafer crumbs. for garnish.

Here are a few more holiday cookies which are sure to please:

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwich Cookies by The Cooking Actress Caramel Apple Cider Cookies by Like Mother Like Daughter
Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookie Bars with Peanut Butter Frosting by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Chocolate-Filled Christmas Thumbprint Cookies by Food Lust People Love
Chocolate Fudge Brownie Sandwich Cookies by Cravings of a Lunatic
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Cookie Cups by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen Chocolate Peppermint Raisin Cookies from It's Yummi!
Classic Gingersnap Cookies by In The Kitchen With KP
Coffee-Toffee Thumbprint Cookies from Crumb
Dark Chocolate Andes Cookie Cups by Beyond Frosting
Double Chocolate Biscotti by Love and Confections
Eggnog Cookies by Jen's Favorite Cookies
Extra-Chewy Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies from Omeletta
Fruit Coolers by Texana's Kitchen
Gluten-free Elisenlebkuchen cookies by Masala Herb
Iced Molasses Cookies with by i heart eating
Nutella Cookies by Total Noms
Orange Cream Cookies by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
Peanut Butter Cup Sandwich Cookies by Chocolate Moosey
Pumpkin Coconut Macaroons by 52 Kitchen Adventures
Rolo Brownie Cookies from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Saketini Christmas Balls from NinjaBaking.com

Even Santa starts dancing with these naughty but nice Saketini Christmas Balls!

We have an amazing giveaway lined up this week thanks to our fabulous sponsors, KitchenAid, OXO, King Arthur Flour, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane Sugar. Four lucky winners will win one of the following:
Prize #1: 1 (one) KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer plus 1 (one) 4lb bag of Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
Prize #2: 1 (one) OXO gift set including the following: 1 (one) 3-in-1 Egg Separator, 1(one) Cookie Press, 1(one) Autumn Cookie Disk Set, 1(one) 3 piece Cookie Cutter Set, 1(one) Bowl Scraper, 1(one) 2 Cup Adjustable Measuring Cups
Prize #3: 1 (one) King Arthur Flour gift set including the following: 1(one) King Arthur Unbleached All Purpose Flour -5lb bag, 1(one) Snowflake Cookie Cutter Set, 1(one) King Arthur Flour Pure Vanilla Extract, 1(one) Sparkling Sugar Collection, 1(one) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Wafers - 16oz and 1(one) 4lb bag of Zulka Pure Cane Sugar
Prize #4: 1 (one) Silpat Halfsize Mat and 1(one) 4lb bag Zulka Pure Cane Sugar

Great Giveaways!

This giveaway is open to US residents from November 11, 2013 through November 16, 2013 11:59pm EST and will be picked from random draw. The winners will be notified via email and have 72 hours to respond, if not their prize is forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

How to Enter: Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment with your favorite cookie to bake during the holidays or for cookie swaps. Many more ways to enter in the rafflecopter widget! A little about our sponsors:

The iconic Kitchenaid stand mixer was born in 1919, from there stemmed an entire kitchen of high-performance appliances -all created with the same attention to detail and quality.

OXO’s mission is dedicated to providing innovative consumer products that make everyday living easier.

King Arthur Flour was founded in 1790, as America’s oldest flour company they provided pure, high-quality flour to residents of the newly formed U.S., still going strong, they are the nation’s premier baking resource.

Silpat was founded in 1965 by M Guy Demarle in Northern France. He was an experience baker seeing a better way to bake bread with forms using non-stick silicone coatings. He invented the first non-stick baguete baking trays and a few years later invented and created the original Silpat.

Zulka Pure Cane Sugar is a Non GMO Project Verified “Morena” sugar - a term used to described granulated sugars that do not undergo conventional refining processes. Zulka is perfect for baking, it tastes better, is less processed and is a cup for cup replacement.

Disclaimer: KitchenAid, OXO, King Arthur Flour, Silpat and Zulka Pure Cane are providing the prizes free of charge. All opinions stated are my own.

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Holiday Cheer: Saketini Christmas Balls

Wishing you many reasons to raise your sake cup in good cheer.

The Ninja Baker

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

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