By Nanette Wiser
Bake the world and pray for peace is my motto this season. I’ve been testing out international holiday cookie recipes, such as German Pfeffernüsse spice cookies, Scottish shortbread, British stained-glass cookies, Czech pernik na figurky gingerbread, Italian pizzelles and pignoli, French madeleines or rugelach for Hanukkah.
If baking is not your thing, now is the time to order cookies and holiday desserts from local bakers such as Coco Addiction, Café Soleil, Nothing Bundt Cake’s minis, Frida’s, Wandering Whisk, Gulfport’s Calm Your Cookies custom designs, Mazzaro’s, DeCosmo, Golden Dinosaurs, Moonlit Macarons, Blueberry Moon Patisserie, and Bella Bakes. If you want to ship to friends and family, put your order in now online at Zabar’s or your favorite bakery on Goldbelly. This year, I’m making my famous chocolate bourbon balls the day after Thanksgiving to serve with Espresso Martinis.
CHOCOLATE BOURBON BALLS
INGREDIENTS
2 cups raw unsalted pecans
2 cups vanilla wafers
1 cup powdered sugar
6 T bourbon whiskey
2 T maple syrup
2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/3 cup decorative sparkling sugar
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°. Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until fragrant and golden in the center, 7 to 9 minutes. Let cool. In a food processor, pulse toasted pecans and vanilla wafers until they’re the texture of coarse breadcrumbs (a few larger chunks of pecans are okay). Add powdered sugar, bourbon, maple syrup, cocoa, and salt and process until combined. Transfer bourbon ball mixture to a medium bowl; cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Pour decorative sugar into a small flat container. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Using a tablespoon measuring spoon, portion and roll balls to 1” in diameter. Roll balls in decorative sugar, gently pressing so sugar adheres, and arrange on prepared sheet. Refrigerate bourbon balls at least 1 hour to set up. Bourbon balls can be made three weeks ahead. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate or freeze up to 1 month.
