orange meltaways
categories:  Cookies | Desserts | International   

recipe from "the international cookie cookbook" - (england and scotland)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose or unbleached white flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, slightly softened
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• finely grated zest of 1 small lemon
• finely grated zest of 1 large orange
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 to 4 teaspoons orange juice, approximately
  
  glaze
• 1/4 cup strained apricot preserves
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon very finely grated orange zest
• 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Preparation:

• preheat oven to 350 degrees f
• grease several baking sheets and set aside
• sift together flour, cornstarch, and baking powder
• in a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes, until very light
• add the powdered sugar and beat until very fluffy and smooth
• beat in egg yolk, lemon zest, orange zest, lemon juice, and 2 teaspoons orange juice until mixture is well blended
• add dry ingredients and beat until thoroughly incorporated
• let stand for 2 to 3 minutes
• if the mixture seems too stiff to pipe through a pastry tube, beat in a bit more orange juice to soften it just slightly
• fit a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch diameter or slightly larger star tip
• stand the bag, tip down, in a tall glass and turn down a wide cuff at the top
• spoon mixture into the bag until two-thirds full
• turn the cuff up and twist the top tightly to close
• pipe 1 1/2 inche shell shapes onto baking sheets, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart
• let stand about 5 minutes
• meanwhile, prepare the glaze by stirring together strained apricot preserves, lemon juice, and orange zest in a small bowl
• place cookies in the center of the oven and bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned
• remove baking sheets from the oven and lightly brush tops of cookies with the glaze
• generously sprinkle the glazed cookies with granulated sugar
• return baking sheets to the oven and continue baking for 4 to 5 minutes longer, or until glaze starts to bubble and caramelize and cookies are browned at the edges
• remove baking sheets from the oven and let cookies stand for about 2 minutes
• then transfer them to wire racks and let stand until cooled completely