Ingredient: mandarin orange segments, drained & dried on paper towel

Its probably a bit too early for butterflies in our part of the country but these spring cookies are so special. Who could resist them when they’re naturally flavored with orange juice and zest and decorated with mandarin orange segments?

I have always loved cookies of all shapes, sizes and flavors. Today there are hundreds of cookie recipes throughout the world. Often geographic development was reflected in popular cookie recipes. It gave homemakers access to items not available previously. Around the turn of the century, the Kellogg brothers in the USA, invented cornflakes and cookies were made with cereal products. In the 1930’s, with the advent of electric refrigerators, icebox cookie recipes reached new heights of popularity. I’m sure that no one book could ever hold the recipes for all the various types of cookies that have been created.

These little filled cookies might seem quite basic but the flavor is amazing!

Print Recipe

Mandarin Butterfly Cookie Bites

Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:

Rate this recipe!

Course

dessert

Keyword

mandarin butterfly cookie bites

Servings

MetricUS Imperial

Ingredients

Filling

• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp grated orange zest
• 2 Tbsp fresh orange juice
• 1 Tbsp butter, softened
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 295 ml mandarin orange segments, drained & dried on paper towel These are for the decoration on top of the cookie.

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp grated orange zest
• 1/4 tsp salt
• granulated sugar

Course dessert Keyword mandarin butterfly cookie bites Servings MetricUS Imperial Ingredients Filling 2/3 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp grated orange zest 2 Tbsp fresh orange juice 1 Tbsp butter, softened 2 tsp cornstarch 295 ml mandarin orange segments, drained & dried on paper towel These are for the decoration on top of the cookie. Cookie Dough 1 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup powdered sugar 2 cups flour 1 tsp grated orange zest 1/4 tsp salt granulated sugar

Votes: 1 Rating: 5 You: Rate this recipe!

Instructions

Filling

1. In a saucepan, combine filling ingredients. Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, or until thickened and translucent, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Cool completely. Set aside.

Cookies

1. In a large bowl, combine butter & powdered sugar. Beat until light & fluffy. Add flour, orange zest & salt. Beat on low until a soft dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill 1-2 hours or until firm.

Baking

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls & place on lined baking sheet 2-inches apart. Flatten balls with the bottom of a glass; dipping glass in granulated sugar to prevent sticking. Using a fork, prick top of each cookie making 3 rows.
3. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool completely.

Fill & Decorate

1. Spread about 1/2 tsp filling on bottoms of half of the cookies. Gently press bottoms of remaining cookies against filling to for 'sandwiches'. On the top of each sandwich put a drop of remaining filling. Carefully lay two (towel dried) mandarin orange segments on it to form a butterfly.

Recipe Notes

• We found these just got better after a few days.