Memento Mori Earl Grey Sandwich Cookies
Cookies
2 Tablespoons grated orange zest
⅔ cup sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
2 Tablespoons Earl Grey tea (removed from 6 teabags)
1 teaspoon vanilla paste
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
½ teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3-4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
Memento Mori Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies
In a standing mixer, combine orange zest and sugar
Incorporate butter, egg, Earl Grey tea, and vanilla paste
Add flour and salt
Wrap in plastic wrap and chill
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Roll dough out on a lightly floured counter to ¼" thickness
Use a stencil (I made mine out of a piece of thin, flexible plastic) to trace Memento Mori shaped cookies, hand-carving skull and wing detail into top halves using a paring knife and leaving bottom halves undecorated. Recipe makes approximately 36 cookies
Transfer onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper and let chill in freezer for 20-30 minutes before baking to ensure cookies do not expand and retain shape and decorating detail while baking
Bake 10-15 minutes, until lightly colored
Let cookies cool slightly on cookie sheets and then transfer to a wire rack fully cool
Cream Cheese Frosting
Beat cream cheese and softened butter in medium bowl until smooth and creamy. Mix in vanilla and salt
Gradually add sugar, beating after each addition until incorporated. Continue to beat until frosting is very smooth
Use to frost bottom half of sandwich cookies, then top with second cookie. Leftover frosting can be frozen for future use
