Kabocha Squash Cookies without Cookie Cutters
- 180 grams Kabocha squash
- 120 grams Butter (or margarine)
- 90 grams Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 250 grams White flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking powder
- 1 small amout Salt (not required if you use salted butter), Vanilla oil
- Keep the butter at room temperature or microwave to soften.
- Combine the flour and baking powder and sift twice.
- Microwave the kabocha squash until it becomes soft, peel the skin, and chop up into small pieces in a food processor (then you can strain).
- Keep the skin aside.
- Mix the butter until it becomes creamy, add the sugar, and keep mixing well until it turns pale and white.
- (I used half butter and half margarine)
- Beat an egg (keep 2 tablespoons aside for brushing), pour into the butter mixture slowly to prevent separation, and keep mixing.
- When it's blended, add the kabocha squash paste, a small amount of vanilla oil, and salt, then continue mixing.
- Switch to a spatula, pour in the sifted flour all at once, and mix with a cutting motion.
- Continue mixing until it's no longer floury.
- Do not knead!
- Separate into two portions and wrap in plastic wrap.
- Form into logs, and refrigerate.
- When they become a firm, take them out and push down a chopstick in the centre line to make a pumpkin shape (the stem will be added later).
- Return to the refrigerator.
- When they are firm enought to cut, slice, and brush with the remaining egg.
- Make lines with the edge of a cup or a skewer.
- Cut facial features from the skin you set aside with kitchen scissors, and press on the pumpkin faces.
- Preheat the oven at 170C/ 340F.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- If it seems like the temperature is too high, turn down the heat.
- I put them into separate bags and wrap with ribbons and masking tape.
- You can make a lot and they make perfect gifts.
squash, butter, sugar, egg, white flour, baking powder, salt
Taken from cookpad.com/us/recipes/155167-kabocha-squash-cookies-without-cookie-cutters (may not work)