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For the dough:
- 200g cold butter
- 140g sugar
- 10g vanilla sugar
- 80ml heavy cream (at least 35% fat)
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 tsp lemon zest and 1 tsp orange zest (or essences)
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 400g flour
- 7g baking powder
For the cream:
- 50g cocoa powder
- Crushed cookie crumbs (or 100g of crushed biscuits if needed)
- 100g sugar
- 75g ground walnuts
- 100g butter
- 1 tsp rum extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 100ml water (optional, add only if needed for consistency)
For the decoration:
- 200g white sugar
- Red food coloring
- Yellow food coloring
- 150ml water
- 100g sugar (for boiling)
- Optional: 2-3 drops of lemon/orange essence or zest
Instructions
In a large bowl, mix together the cold butter and sugar, along with vanilla sugar, using a hand mixer. Blend until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth.
Add the remaining dough ingredients to the bowl: heavy cream, egg yolks, salt, lemon zest, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Mix well until all ingredients are incorporated.
Gradually add the flour and baking powder. Mix until you form a soft, crumbly dough. If the dough doesn’t come together, add a teaspoon of cold water.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 15 minutes to firm up. This will help the dough hold its shape during baking.
Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Once the dough is chilled, take small portions and roll them into balls, about 3–3.5 cm in diameter.
Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between them. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown and firm to the touch.
Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for 15-20 minutes. Use a small spoon to hollow out the center of each cookie to make space for the cream.
To make the cream, combine cocoa, crushed biscuits (if used), sugar, ground walnuts, butter, rum extract, and vanilla extract. If the mixture is too firm, gradually add water until smooth.
Fill each hollowed-out cookie half with the cream using a teaspoon. Carefully press the halves together to form a sandwich. Repeat for all cookies.
For the decoration, prepare a syrup by boiling water and 100g sugar in a pot. Once it starts boiling, divide it into two bowls. Add red and yellow food coloring to each bowl.