Handmade Pepero Cookies
Making Pepero Cookies: Delicious Even Without the Coating!
Get ready for Pepero Day with these delightful homemade Pepero cookies! Unlike the thin store-bought versions, these cookies are satisfyingly thick, making them a perfect individual gift. They’re simple to make and wonderfully delicious, perfect for sharing or enjoying yourself. Let’s bake some sweet memories together!
Cookie Dough Ingredients- 180g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 80g powdered sugar
- 60g egg (about 1 large egg, room temperature, lightly beaten)
- 300g cake flour (or low-gluten flour)
- 80g almond powder
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, cream the softened butter until smooth. Then, sift in the powdered sugar and mix until no streaks of sugar remain. Ensure the butter and sugar are well combined for a tender cookie texture.
Step 2
Gradually add the beaten egg in 2-3 additions, mixing well after each addition to prevent the mixture from separating. Adding the egg all at once can cause the batter to curdle.
Step 3
Sift the cake flour and almond powder into the butter mixture. Gently fold them in using a spatula, making a ’11’ motion, just until no dry flour is visible. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
Step 4
Once the dry ingredients are mostly incorporated and the dough is difficult to mix with a spatula, bring it together into a single cohesive mass using your hands. Handle the dough gently to avoid developing the gluten too much.
Step 5
Divide the dough into three portions. Place each portion between parchment paper or in a zip-top bag and use a rolling pin to flatten it into a rectangular shape, approximately 13cm long and 1cm thick. Aim for even thickness for consistent baking.
Step 6
Place the shaped dough, still in its bag or between parchment, into the freezer for about 1 hour until firm. This chilling step is crucial for clean cuts and prevents the cookies from spreading too much.
Step 7
Remove the firm dough from the freezer. Using a sharp knife, score lines about 1.5cm apart across the dough to guide your cuts. Carefully slice the dough into stick shapes along these lines.
Step 8
Melt the coating chocolate gently using a double boiler (place a heatproof bowl over simmering water, ensuring the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Dip each cookie stick into the melted chocolate, coating about two-thirds of the length.
Step 9
Before the chocolate sets, sprinkle or roll the coated cookies in your chosen crunchy toppings. Get creative with different sprinkles, nuts, or other decorations! Once the chocolate has hardened, your delicious homemade Pepero cookies are ready to be enjoyed.
