Cape Spice Sugar Cookies
Cape Spice Sugar Cookies bring a taste of South Africa to your kitchen with their aromatic blend of spices. Infused with brandy and a hint of port wine, these cookies offer a unique dessert experience, perfect for gatherings or as a delightful treat. Ideal for those who appreciate a distinctive twist on traditional sugar cookies, these cookies combine warm spices with citrus zest, creating a memorable flavor profile.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
16
Ingredients
Ingredients
shortening
1/2 cup (softened)
butter
1/2 cup (softened)
clove
1/4 teaspoon (ground)
ginger
1/2 teaspoon (ground)
cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon (ground)
allspice
1/2 teaspoon (ground)
orange zest
1/2 teaspoon (freshly grated)
eggs
2 (well beaten)
sugar
1 2/3 cups (granulated)
ground almonds
1/3 cup (optional)
flour
4 cups (all-purpose)
baking soda
1/2 teaspoon
salt
1/2 teaspoon
baking powder
1/2 teaspoon
brandy
1 tablespoon
port wine
1/4-1/2 cup (to taste)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease your baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.
2
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and shortening until light and fluffy.
3
Add the cloves, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and orange zest to the creamed mixture. Mix well until the spices are evenly distributed.
4
Beat in the well-beaten eggs and sugar, followed by the ground almonds if you're using them. Mix until everything is well combined.
5
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.
6
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the brandy and port wine, mixing until just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.
7
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour, until firm enough to roll.
8
On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a thin sheet, about 1/8 inch thick.
9
Using your favorite pastry cutters, cut the dough into your desired shapes and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets.
10
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until they are nicely browned around the edges.
11
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Cape Spice Sugar Cookies?
Cape Spice Sugar Cookies are a South African-inspired dessert featuring an aromatic blend of spices, brandy, port wine, and citrus zest.
Where do Cape Spice Sugar Cookies originate from?
These cookies bring a taste of South Africa to your kitchen, offering a distinctive twist on traditional sugar cookies.
What is the recommended oven temperature for baking these cookies?
The oven should be preheated to 400°F (200°C).
How should I prepare my baking sheets?
You should lightly grease your baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.
What fats are used in this recipe?
The recipe uses a combination of 1/2 cup of softened butter and 1/2 cup of softened shortening.
Which spices are included in the dough?
The cookie dough is flavored with ground cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice.
Is citrus zest used in Cape Spice Sugar Cookies?
Yes, the recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated orange zest.
How many eggs are required for this recipe?
The recipe requires 2 well-beaten eggs.
What type of sugar should I use?
Use 1 2/3 cups of granulated sugar.
Are almonds an ingredient in these cookies?
Yes, 1/3 cup of ground almonds can be added optionally to the mixture.
What kind of flour is best for this recipe?
The recipe calls for 4 cups of all-purpose flour.
Which leavening agents are used?
The recipe uses 1/2 teaspoon each of baking soda and baking powder.
What alcoholic beverages are added to the dough?
The dough is flavored with 1 tablespoon of brandy and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of port wine.
How do I mix the dry ingredients?
Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder in a separate bowl before adding them to the wet mixture.
Should the dough be chilled before rolling?
Yes, the dough should be covered and chilled in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour until firm.
How thick should the cookie dough be rolled?
Roll the dough out to a thin sheet, approximately 1/8 inch thick.
What can I use to shape the cookies?
You can use your favorite pastry cutters to cut the dough into your desired shapes.
How long do Cape Spice Sugar Cookies take to bake?
Bake the cookies for 10-15 minutes in a preheated oven.
How do I know when the cookies are finished baking?
The cookies are done when they are nicely browned around the edges.
What is the cooling process for these cookies?
Allow them to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
Can I overmix the dough?
No, you should be careful not to overmix when incorporating the dry ingredients and spirits.
What is the primary flavor profile?
The flavor profile is a combination of warm spices like clove and cinnamon with notes of brandy, port, and citrus.
Is this recipe suitable for holidays?
Yes, these cookies are ideal for holiday baking and special gatherings.
How much salt is in the recipe?
The recipe requires 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
What is the first step in the mixing process?
The first step is to cream together the butter and shortening until the mixture is light and fluffy.
How much ground ginger is needed?
The recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger.
What amount of cinnamon is used?
The recipe uses 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
When should the spices be added?
The spices should be added to the creamed butter and shortening mixture before adding eggs and sugar.
How many total ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 16 total ingredients listed in this recipe.
Can I adjust the amount of port wine?
Yes, the recipe suggests using 1/4 to 1/2 cup of port wine to taste.