Thursday, February 11, 2010

Tiger Butter Cookies & Apple Crumble Muffins

So exciting! The Chinese New Year is just around the corner and everyone is just busy cleaning, buying, baking, and decorating! The mood is really in the air. :) It's been so many years since I am home, really home to enjoy this festive holiday with my family in Singapore. I remember the years in California, the first day of CNY is still a working day! And eating reunion dinner would be just me and my husband plus my girls. Not that mood if you know what I mean. It's really good to be home again. :) And in view of the coming Tiger year, I have decided to make some Tiger shaped butter cookies. :) These cookies are very easy to make, only took me 3 hours to complete them. I have adapted the recipe from Sonia (Nasi Lemak Lover) butter cookie recipe. I did make a slight change to the recipe by adding extra 25g of cornflour into the batter to make it a wee bit more firm. I actually planned to make these for my younger daughter's school CNY celebration next week. But thought I made some in advance for the family to enjoy. Indeed these cookies are light and crisp...and literally melt-in-your mouth, superb! I simply just piped melted dark chocolate ganache over the cookies to draw out the tiger faces. My girls love the buttery light cookies and were even more amused after seeing the tiger faces and chocolate on top. I tasted it again the next day and it is still very good. :)Will definitely keep this recipe for next year. Yummy!

So far this year I only managed to bake Peanut Cookies, Pineapple tarts, 2 kinds of Butter cookies and cornflake cookies. I have to thank my MIL for being so patient and allowing me to bake up so many CNY cookies and cakes in her kitchen. Hopefully next year in my own kitchen I will be able to come up with more yummy bakes for all to share. :)
The next item I wanted to post is Apple Crumble Muffins. I made this mainly for my elder daughter to bring for snack during her recess time. She loves apples, whether it's fresh or made into apple pie, apple tarts etc. And lately she demands to eat apples everyday...at least half or 1 apple. So I thought why not make her something that she likes so much.
Ingredients for Apple Crumble Muffins (makes 12 standard):
150g unsalted butter, room temperature
75g caster sugar

75g brown sugar
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla extract
240g plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
130ml fresh milk

Apple filling:
2 medium to large apples, peeled and cored, cut into small chunks
50g brown sugar
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon powder

Crumble topping:
60g cold butter, cubed
60g brown sugar
100g cake flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon powder

Method:
  • Using a small heat proof sauce pot, cook the apples together with the rest of the filling ingredients till it's semi-soft, about 10 minutes. Let cool before use.
  • In another mixing bowl, mix everything in the crumble topping ingredients together. Using your finger tips to knead till it resembles bread crumbs. Set aside or refrigerate till needed.
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  • Sift the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder into a bowl and set aside.
  • Cream the butter and both the sugars together till light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time and beat till well mixed. Add vanilla extract and blend well.
  • Add 1/4 of the flour mixture into the butter & sugar mixture and mix well. Then add 1/3 of the milk in and again mix well. Repeat till all of the flour and milk has been added.
  • Stir in the apple fillings and pour the batter into the paper lined muffin tins to about 3/4 full. Then scoop about 1 tbsp of the crumble topping over the top, gently pressing a little to make sure it will stick.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes till tester comes out clean and the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and let rest on cooling rack.
I love the moist texture of this cake and the crusty salty sweet crumble toppings. Although the apple scent and taste is not as evident as I hope it is, but it was still a delicious delicate cake to enjoy. My daughter loved it and so did I. :) In fact this muffin is a delicious choice over the usual bread and butter.
Perhaps the next time I tried this recipe again, I shall use Granny Smith rather then those China Fuji, which is less intense in apple taste. I would also reduce the cooking time for the apples so that it has more texture in the muffin. Interested? Do try it out...maybe after CNY.

Lastly, I would like to wish everyone out there:

虎年快乐! 身体健康! 财源广进! 国太平安!

25 comments:

Happy Homebaker said...

Your tiger cookies are so cute!! Here's wishing you a Happy Tiger Year :)

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks HHB! Hereby also wishing you a prosperous and peaceful Tiger year! "虎年行好运!"

ReeseKitchen said...

WA....the cookies are so so so cute!!!. You always have the superb idea whenever you want to bake..;)Very nice!
A very good mother indeed. Home cook food are always the best:) Amelia must be very happy when she brings the muffins to school.
Wishing you all the best, good health and more bakings throughout the year!
Gong Xi Fa Cai...:)

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks Reese! Heehee, would have definitely made for you and Grace these cookies if I am still there. :P But anyway, you are so good with your NY cookies this year! So many varieties! BTW, I am still cracking my head what cookie to bake for the bloggers! Anyway, Gong Xi Gong Xi to you too! ;)

ann low said...

WOW! the tiger cookies ready cute! Really makes people smile by looking at it :)
Happy Lunar New Year!

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks Anncoo! Also wishing you a great Tiger year with lots of wonderful surprises!

DG said...

Your tiger cookies so adorable, I'm sure this will be the kids' favourite. Wishing you & family a happy & prosperous year.

Small Small Baker said...

I like your tiger cookies too! So cute! Wish your a Happy New Year and have fun celebrating! :)

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks DG! I would also like to wish you and your family a harmonious and wealthy Tiger year!

Thanks Small Small Baker! It's always fun to make something for the kids. :) May your Tiger year be a joyous and fruitful year for you & your family. Cheers!

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

You are just creative, this Tiger face butter cookie is so cute, kids sure like this. Wishing you a Happy CNY.

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Hi Sonia! Thanks so much. :) I try my best to please the kids and the elder. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Pei-Lin said...

Oh, my!!! All of them look so damn good!! It does feel really festive now!! LOL!

Anyway, have a great Lunar New Year!! May the Tiger bring you & your family prosperity and health this coming year!!

See you at OneUtama later!

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks Pei-lin! May your Tiger year be filled with joy and wealth and of course lots of wonderful bakes! See you at 1U! ;)

Unknown said...

happy new year

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Hi Lilyng,
Happy New Year to you and your family too! ;)

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Rita said...

The tiger cookies are so adorable! You are very creative.

Happy New Year and Happy Valentine's Day too!

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks Rita!
I made some more of these Tiger Cookies for my daughter's school party today. According to my little one, she said all the children liked the cookies! I guess a little deco does the trick. Happy New Year and Happy Belated Valentine's Day to you too! ;)

Unknown said...

aww they look too cute to eat!!!! you are very artistic!

love the smiley faces on the tigers :). its look delicious

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks Ann. Happy Tiger Year to you too!;0 Have a Tigerific year ahead!

Blessed Homemaker said...

The tigers are way too cute to be eaten! You are so creative!

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Hi Blessed Homemaker!
Long time no "see"! The Tiger cookies was a hit with the kids...they love it. :) Thanks for your compliment. ;)

Blessed Homemaker said...

I've been lurking around ;-)

Unknown said...

Hi,

I just baked the apple crumble muffins following your recipe, they taste wondeful. Thks for sharing the recipe.

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Welcome to my blog neyeeloh! So glad you like this recipe and feedback to me. ;) Happy baking!