Thursday 26 January 2012

CHINESE PEANUT COOKIES


We used to go home to Malaysia for the Chinese new year every year until the children started school. I just enjoyed the festive atmosphere everywhere but most of all in the shops. I feasted my eyes on the beautifully packaged munch-able goodies. Red and gold trays of assorted lucky foods were piled high on display tables. 



My favourite were the very popular peanut cookies or sometimes called peanut dainties. The texure of these cookies are like shortbread but with a crispier crust. The taste is of intense peanutty goodness. Most recipes use peanut oil as the binder but I used butter and peanut butter. I also used castor sugar instead of icing sugar because I like sweet specks of sugar rather than the uniform sweet powdery sweetness that icing sugar gives.



Peanuts are eaten in the Chinese new year because it symbolizes a long list of good wishes: longevity, fertility, health, multiplication of wealth and good fortune. Peanut cookies are usually shaped into a ball but I molded mine in a flower shaped silicone ice tray. Luckily the recipe makes quite a lot (56 flower shaped ones) because it is just one of those things that you can't stop eating.




Adapted from Rasa Malaysia's recipe for Peanut Cookies.


Ingredients:


2 1/2 c. ground roasted peanuts
1 c. flour
1 c. castor sugar
1/2 c. melted butter
2 tbsps. peanut butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg yolk plus 1 tbsp. of milk for glazing


Pe-heat the oven to 350° F/ 180° C.


Dry roast raw peanuts in a frying pan until golden brown and fragrant. Peel the skin off by rubbing the peanuts between your palms and and swirling in a colander with big holes. The skins will fall through the holes leaving you with peeled peanut kernels. 


Grind these in a food processor until fine. Measure 2 1/2 c. and mix with the rest of the ingredients, except for the glaze.  You can do this in the processor. Shape into firmly packed balls or press into molds. Line a baking tray with baking paper and arrange the formed cookies in a single layer. Glaze with the egg yolk and milk mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.



All rights reserved ©Adora's Box Copyright 2011

You might also like
Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Chinese New Year Pudding (Tikoy)
Sweet Potato and Red Bean Mochi
Thanks for dropping by. Please let me know what you think of this post.

13 comments:

  1. Yum! I am so excited to make these for Chinese New Year!

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  2. How absolutely adorable these cookies are! Thanks for sharing... they sound delicious!

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  3. These are lovely. I just saw something like this on Iron Chef but was only half watching it so now I know what to do. Thanks for sharing this gem with us.

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  4. I actually pick up a bag of these little guys mostly every time we head into Chinatown. Now I can get my little hit of peanutty joy any time I want :) Thanks for sharing!

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  5. These cookies do intrigue and are a little bit different than the standard peanut butter cookies. Love the molds that you used! Thanks for posting this unique recipe, it looks like a keeper.

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  6. Really, really beautiful. I just love peanuts. I would really love these.

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  7. Adorable cookies, and very tasty looking! Love your presentation and photos too Adora!I Enjoy reading your post today! Have a wonderful day!!!!!

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  8. I like how you are accustomed to two different cultures and have embraced them both.
    you know the Chinese customs as much as you know Filipino customs as well.
    I truly enjoy reading all those fascinating traditions that you post.
    GUng Hei Fat Choi (tama ba? hihi)
    malou

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  9. Love how these are made! I have a bag of peanuts in the cupboard right now that are screaming to be used for something like these cookies :)

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  10. These really sound delicious.I love to visit here. I never leave empty handed. I always have a recipe or tip to carry back to my own kitchen. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  11. I love your peanut cookies! The shape is so cute and I can easily pot them into my mouth... =D It's much more fun to celebrate CNY in Asian countries. Too bad we're not... :-(

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  12. I know what you mean, Nami. I miss all the festivities back home. Even Christmas is pretty quiet here.

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  13. Xin nian kuai le! These are so cute, Adora, and they look very easy to make.

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