Year of the Dragon Cookie

 

In 2024, Tết (the Vietnamese Lunar New Year) falls on February 10 and it's the Year of the Dragon, considered the most powerful of all Asian zodiac animals.  It's no coincidence that birth rates in these years are higher than other years because dragon children are supposedly destined for wealth and greatness.  I don't know if there's any data to support that theory but my oldest niece Sophie is a dragon so for her sake I hope it's true.

 

It's become somewhat of a tradition of mine to bake and decorate cookies in the shape of the lunar new year animal.  I love passing the favors out at my family's large Tết gathering.  I didn't have a dragon in my cookie cutter arsenal so I ordered this one from etsy.   To decorate the edible dragons  I went the super simple route and brushed a thin layer of red-tinted royal icing on top.  To add a bit of character to the face I drew on an eyebrow using a food coloring pen.

 

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới 2024!!!!

 

Year of the Tiger Shortbread

 

Tết 2022 marks the Year of the Tiger, which is especially poignant for me because that is my animal sign.   People born in a year of the tiger are known to be brave, competitive, unpredictable, charming and well-liked by others.  However, sometimes they are likely to be impetuous, irritable and overindulgent. I'll leave it to those who know me well to decide if they recognize these characteristics in me.

To celebrate the Lunar New Year I made some these Tiger Shortbread which I'll hand out to family and friends.  The recipe I used is a clotted cream shortbread which I especially love because it does a fantastic job of keeping the intricate designs of your design intact.  I saved two tubs of Rodda's clotted cream that I got in London specifically for this purpose.  Fresh clotted cream is difficult to find in the States (which is why I bring it back from England) so you can just substitute butter in its place. The tiger cookie cutter I purchased from Amazon.  

Wishing you all a healthy, safe and prosperous Year of the Tiger!  

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới 2022!

Chinese Almond Cookies

The Lunar New Year falls on Friday, February 12, 2021 and marks the start of The Year of the Ox.  In my family Tết is a major holiday centered around family and food.  Obviously this year we won't have the extended family gathering that we normally would, but we'll still celebrate nonetheless.

Even though these Chinese Almond Cookies aren't your typical New Year's fare I thought they'd be a great to serve as dessert.   I found the recipe from use real butter's blog and it couldn't be simpler to make.  My favorite thing is how the tops of the cookies shine like lacquer, stemming from the brush of egg wash they receive just before being baked.  The almond flavor really comes through from the almond flour and almond extract in the recipe.   

These cookies are delicious and not too sweet and can be served all year long, not just for New Year's.

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới 2021!!!!

Year of the Rat Cookies

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!!   Happy Lunar New Year!!

January 25 marks the start of the Year of the Rat.  To celebrate I made these rat decorated sugar cookies.  No fancy cutter needed; I just used a heart one and royal icing to form the shape of the rat.  

Wishing you health, happiness and good fortune this year.