Hidden Design Cookies

Breaking in my new bottle of Fiori di Sicilia extract with these cookies and the kitchen smells divine. # 430: Hidden Design Cookies

🎶 It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!

I love stumbling across flavors I’ve never heard of, especially when they smell like Earl Grey tea, vanilla and orange. Fiori di Sicilia is a mystery blend of extracts, but I almost like it better for being elusive. Let’s just call it what it smells like: essence of cozy vibes.

I’m watching Bake Off really slowly (about to watch the finale this week!!) and I got inspired by biscuit week’s signature. I’ve never done a hidden design cookie before and there’s something super satisfying about slicing into a log and revealing a surprise!

I went back and forth over what to put in the center that wouldn’t turn into a straight up blob. (For some reason I couldn’t get poinsettias out of my head… but I didn’t trust that all the petals would look distinct. Maybe with two shades of red? Next time!)

Old-fashioned Christmas lights won in the end. Colorful but also straightforward and (hopefully) recognizable.

Did you know powdered sugar has a little cornstarch in it to keep it from clumping up? You supposedly get a softer crumb with powdered instead of granulated sugar because the cornstarch helps absorb a bit more moisture. I kind of want to try a side-by-side comparison to see if it’s a noticeable difference! Maybe I’ll be a cookie mad scientist in 2026, you never know.

It helps when your nails match your spatula.

The calm before the color storm.

Gloves saving me from having tie-dye hands.

Quick fridge nap 😴

I didn’t have quite enough plain dough to make them round, but we’re rolling with it anyway. Moral of the story: make more dough than you think you need!