Recipe Fridays!

Sarah Bernhardt Cookies

from Martha Stewart

Okay, I usually try to feature easy recipes on this blog, but every once in a while, I want a challenge as much as the next man. I'm not going to lie: these cookies are a little advanced, and can get very messy. However, the payoff is pretty cool if you can get them right. It may take a couple of tries before they look like the above, and set aside an afternoon of making, freezing, melting, and such, but it will be worth it;)

Ingredients

Makes about 60

 FOR THE FILLING

• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 large egg yolks, lightly beaten

FOR THE COOKIE

• 1/4 pound almond paste
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg white
• 1/8 teaspoon pure almond extract
• Pinch of salt

FOR THE COATING

• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons pure vegetable shortening

Directions

1. Make the filling: In a heat-proof bowl or the top of a double boiler set over a pan of simmering water, melt chocolate, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, and allow to cool. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, and simmer until clear, about 5 minutes; remove from heat. Place egg yolks in the bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water, and whisk until warm to the touch, about 2 minutes. Transfer bowl to mixer stand fitted with the whisk attachment; with machine on medium, beat in hot sugar syrup. Increase speed to high, and continue beating until cool and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
2. Reduce speed to medium, and gradually drizzle in cooled chocolate, beating until fully combined; if necessary, stop to scrape down sides of bowl. Refrigerate until firm and cold, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper; set aside
4. Make the cookies: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine almond paste and sugar; beat until smooth. Add egg white, almond extract, and a pinch of salt; beat to combine. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch tip (Ateco #11). Pipe 1-inch cookies onto a prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each cookie.
5. Bake until firm and golden around edges, about 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies may be stored at this stage in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
6. Place cookies dome-side down on a cooling rack. Place filling in a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch tip (Ateco #11), and pipe a peaked mound onto the flat side of each cookie. Transfer to freezer until very firm, about 1 hour.
7. Make the coating: In a heat-proof bowl or the top of a double boiler set over a pan of simmering water, melt chocolate, stirring until smooth. Stir in shortening. Cool to barely warm.
8. Remove cookies from freezer. Working quickly so that the filling doesn't melt, use a chocolate fork to hold cookie above bowl of chocolate, and spoon melted chocolate over cookie. Place filling-side up on cooling rack placed over a baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Will keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.