Magical Wands (Bacchette Magiche)
Category: Sweets
Servings: 15
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Egg Yolks | 4 |
| All-Purpose Flour (00) | 500g |
| Powdered Sugar | 200g |
| Butter (cold, diced) | 250g |
| Orange Zest | 1 |
| Powdered Sugar (for glaze) | 100g |
| Water | 2 tbsp |
| Food Coloring | as needed |
| Edible Decoration | as needed |
Instructions:
To create these delightful Magical Wands, start by preparing the shortcrust pastry. Begin by placing the sifted flour, a pinch of salt, and cold, diced butter into a food processor. Pulse until the mixture takes on a crumbly, sandy texture, much like breadcrumbs.
Once the flour and butter are well-combined, form a well in the center of the mixture. Grate the zest of one orange and incorporate it into the dough. Then, add the egg yolks. Mix everything together until it forms a dough-like consistency.
Shape the dough into a flattened disc, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
After the chilling period, roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1 cm (½ inch). Using a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out stars approximately 7 cm in diameter. Insert a food-safe stick gently into the center of each star, ensuring it’s secure but doesn’t break through the dough.
Now, it’s time to prepare the glaze! In a small saucepan, heat a small amount of water and gradually mix in the powdered sugar. Stir with a whisk until smooth. If the glaze is too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar to thicken; if it’s too thick, add more warm water to achieve a smooth, fluid consistency.
Once the glaze is ready, divide it into two bowls. Cover both bowls with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface to prevent the glaze from drying out.
Next, color the glazes. In one bowl, add yellow food coloring, and in the other, add pink. Stir gently to achieve even colors. Keep the bowls covered until you’re ready to use them.
Once the cookies are fully cooled, transfer them to a wire rack. Now it’s time for the fun part: decorating! Coat half of the cookies with the yellow glaze and the other half with the pink glaze, using a spoon or a small spatula. Start from the center and work your way outward, leaving a small border.
Before the glaze sets completely, decorate the cookies with colorful edible pearls, using kitchen tweezers to carefully place them at the tips of the stars.
Let the glazed cookies dry completely before serving.
And there you have it—your magical wands are ready to dazzle! These sweet treats are perfect for parties or as a whimsical gift.
Enjoy your enchanting Bacchette Magiche!
