Carnation Bean Paste Cookies
Mother’s Day & Teacher’s Day Special: Making Carnation Bean Paste Cookies
As May, the month of families, arrives, we’re sharing a recipe for Carnation Bean Paste Cookies. These cookies are perfect for gifting on Parent’s Day or Teacher’s Day! With a little practice piping flowers, you’ll be able to follow along easily and create beautiful, edible bouquets. The combination of fragrant almond and sweet bean paste makes these a delightful treat for all ages. Enjoy making these special cookies!
Cookie Dough Ingredients (Makes approx. 8-10 cookies)
- White bean paste 250g
- Fine almond powder (adds flavor and texture)
- 1 egg yolk (enhances richness and color)
- 2 tsp milk (to adjust dough consistency, add more or less depending on bean paste)
- Strawberry powder, as needed (for vibrant red petals)
- Prickly pear cactus powder, as needed (for natural red petals)
- Green tea powder, as needed (for fresh green leaves)
Tools Needed
- 2 x 104 piping tips (1 if using a coupler)
- 1 x 352 piping tip
- Nail (for piping bean paste cookies)
- 1 x Nail holder
- Parchment paper, cut into approx. 8-10 pieces
- 3 x Piping bags (for colored bean paste dough)
- 2 x 104 piping tips (1 if using a coupler)
- 1 x 352 piping tip
- Nail (for piping bean paste cookies)
- 1 x Nail holder
- Parchment paper, cut into approx. 8-10 pieces
- 3 x Piping bags (for colored bean paste dough)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s make the base bean paste dough for the cookies. In a bowl, place 250g of white bean paste. Add a good amount of fine almond powder for enhanced flavor and texture. Add 1 egg yolk to enrich the dough. Using a spatula, mix all ingredients thoroughly until smooth. If the dough seems too stiff, gradually add milk, about 2 teaspoons at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. The thickness can vary depending on the brand of bean paste, so adjust the milk accordingly. Be careful not to make it too watery, as it will be difficult to pipe.
Step 2
Now it’s time to add beautiful colors to the dough. Divide the bean paste mixture into portions for petals and leaves. For the petals, you can use strawberry powder or prickly pear cactus powder to achieve vibrant and natural red hues. For the leaves, use green tea powder to create a fresh green color. While food coloring can be used, natural powders offer a healthier and more subtle coloring. After adding the powders, mix again thoroughly to ensure the color is uniform throughout.
Step 3
Prepare the piping bags with the necessary tips: the 104 tip for petals and the 352 tip for leaves. Carefully fill each piping bag with the colored bean paste dough. Cut the tip of the piping bag, insert the tip, and secure it tightly to prevent the dough from leaking. The type of tip you use will affect the shape of the piped designs, so choose your tips keeping the desired carnation shape in mind.
Step 4
Let’s start piping the flowers. Lightly coat the nail (a tool used for piping bean paste cookies) with a small amount of bean paste. Place a piece of parchment paper on the nail and use the piping bag to pipe a long ‘stem’ or central column for the carnation. Using parchment paper makes it easier to remove the cookies later, but once you’re comfortable, you can pipe directly onto the nail without it. The height of this stem will determine the overall height of your cookie, so try to pipe it consistently.
Step 5
After forming the stem, we’ll pipe the petals. Using the 104 tip, pipe upwards along the stem, creating ruffles or pleats. Think of it like writing a ‘K’ – pipe slightly overlapping each stroke to create a立体 (three-dimensional) shape. The angle of the tip, whether held upright or tilted, and the pressure applied will change the petal’s appearance, so practice a few times. Piping densely will make the flower look fuller.
Step 6
Fill in the gaps between the ‘K’-shaped petals with smaller ruffles, ensuring they are packed closely. Once you have a rounded shape, pipe the largest petals around the outside, enclosing the center. Then, add smaller petals to finish and create a fuller, more natural carnation look. The key is to pipe delicately to maintain the shape.
Step 7
Once the petals are done, it’s time for the leaves. Using the piping bag filled with green bean paste and fitted with the 352 tip, pipe fresh leaf shapes at the base of the carnation. Keep the leaves relatively small and aim for a natural, outward-spreading look. Carefully transfer the completed carnation cookies onto a baking sheet, keeping them on the parchment paper. Make sure to leave some space between cookies to prevent them from sticking together during baking.
Step 8
Now it’s time to bake! Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F). Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. Baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on the cookies and adjust as needed. Overbaking can make them hard. The freshly baked carnation cookies will be quite soft. If you try to move them immediately, they might break. Let them cool slightly on the baking sheet before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your delicious Carnation Bean Paste Cookies!
