Orange Butter Shells
James Carrier
Yields Makes about 18 cookies
Prep and Cook Time: about 1 hour. Notes: Madeleine pans have shell-shaped indentations and are usually used to make the sponge cake-like cookie traditional in France, but it's a charming shape for any cookie. If you have only one pan, you can bake these orange-flavored cookies in batches; be sure to cool the pan under cold running water and dry it thoroughly before baking the next batch. You can store the cookies airtight at room temperature up to 3 days.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Lightly butter 18 madeleine molds (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 in. long; see notes) or coat lightly with cooking oil spray.

Step 2
2

In a bowl, with an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in egg, egg yolk, orange peel, and vanilla until well blended, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

Step 3
3

In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, beat flour mixture into butter mixture until well incorporated. Pinch off 1-inch balls of dough and press evenly into prepared madeleine molds.

Step 4
4

Bake cookies in a 325° oven until edges of cookies are lightly browned and centers feel dry and firm to the touch, 12 to 14 minutes. Immediately invert pans to release cookies onto racks and dust shell-patterned sides with powdered sugar. Let cool.

Step 5
5

Note: Nutritional analysis is per cookie.

Ingredients

 1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter, at room temperature
 3/4 cup granulated sugar
 1 large egg
 1 large egg yolk
 1 1/2 tablespoons grated orange peel
 1 teaspoon vanilla
 2 cups all-purpose flour
 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
 1/4 teaspoon salt
  Powdered sugar

Directions

Step 1
1

Lightly butter 18 madeleine molds (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 in. long; see notes) or coat lightly with cooking oil spray.

Step 2
2

In a bowl, with an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in egg, egg yolk, orange peel, and vanilla until well blended, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

Step 3
3

In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, beat flour mixture into butter mixture until well incorporated. Pinch off 1-inch balls of dough and press evenly into prepared madeleine molds.

Step 4
4

Bake cookies in a 325° oven until edges of cookies are lightly browned and centers feel dry and firm to the touch, 12 to 14 minutes. Immediately invert pans to release cookies onto racks and dust shell-patterned sides with powdered sugar. Let cool.

Step 5
5

Note: Nutritional analysis is per cookie.

Orange Butter Shells

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