Recipe: White Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla Cookies
These white chocolate strawberry and vanilla cookies balance sweet and fruity and taste of Summer in every mouthful. The brown butter in this recipe stops them being overly sweet and adds a nutty depth to the flavour. The cookies are best eaten on the same day and I challenge you not to eat one fresh from the oven as its scent will call to you.
ingredients
75g unsalted butter
140g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
135g soft brown sugar
2 tbsp milk
75g white chocolate chopped
45g strawberry chopped finely and pressed between kitchen roll to remove excess juice
Method
First brown the butter by heating it in a pan over a medium heat until it starts to foam and flecks of brown appear. Set aside to cool a little then stir in the milk and vanilla extract.
Stir in the dried ingredients until a dough forms followed by the white chocolate and strawberry pieces. Knead lightly until evenly distributed. Place the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
Preheat the oven to 160°C fan. Line two baking trays. Roll teaspoons of the mixture into balls and space well apart on the trays. Sprinkle with a little sea salt if you like. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes then leave to cool and firm up on the trays.
A Seasonal Note
Published in early June these cookies sit perfectly in the bright playful energy of the Celtic Summer season. It is the moment when strawberries reach their peak sweetness and the days stretch longer and longer towards Litha the Summer Solstice. This recipe captures that feeling of early Summer abundance light warm and full of promise.
