Geode Cookies

Ever thought a geode looks like naturally made hard candy or large sprinkles? Well how about a cookie version with plenty of sprinkles to resemble those beautiful gem stones?

Today my nephew Griffin turned 5! He had a gem and bead themed party yesterday for which I mailed off these geode cookies. These were a bit of a labor in the recipe development department as I went through several mishaps along the way, but in the end the last few mishaps actually were good as they made the geodes looks more realistic instead of perfect rounds. The only thing I would change is to put more sprinkles on top to make them look really crystalline. You could also easily change up the colors, or make multiple colors.

I also sent some cake batter puppy chow for the party. It’s kind of stone-like…? Ah whatever, it is delicious and I’m sure no kid could turn it down. I wish I could have been there, for the party but we are already going there for Christmas and I can only afford so many flights, especially with a mortgage now! Obviously not complaining about owning a house, because we love it oh so much, just the reality of life! Despite my wanderlust and inability to turn down invitations, we are trying to spend more time at home to actually enjoy this structure in which we now live. Hopefully there will be lots of porch hang outs in our future!

Three years ago: Spicy BBQ Pasta Salad

Four years ago: Blueberry Coconut Muesli Bars

Five years ago: Red, White & Blue Sangria

Six years ago: Taco Bar with Carnitas: Mexican Pulled Pork

GEODE COOKIES

Makes 4 dozen

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups powdered sugar

2 eggs

2 Tbsp milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

Purple gel food coloring

Black gel food coloring

Purple sprinkles

1/2 cup black/chocolate sprinkles

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and milk and beat until just incorporated. Add remaining ingredients (except the food coloring) and mix until the dough is well incorporated.
2. Divide dough in half. Add purple food coloring to one half until you have reached your desired intensity. Divide remaining white dough in half again, leaving one part white and dying the other black.
3. On a clean, floured surface, roll out the black cookie dough into a 6×12-inch rectangle. Roll out the white cookie dough into the same size, place on top of the black dough, and lightly roll to adhere them together. Next, roll out the purple dough into the same size (it will be thicker). Spread 3 tablespoons of purple sprinkles over the dough leaving an inch border, press to adhere to the dough, and roll up into a log.
4. Place on top of the stacked black and white dough, and roll up around the purple dough, encasing it and squeezing lightly to adhere the dough together into a large log. Roll log in black sprinkles, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
6. Remove chilled cookie dough from wrapper and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet, sprinkle center with additional purple sprinkles, and bake for 10 minutes or until they begin to brown. Remove from the oven and cool 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Source: Heavily adapted from Kara’s Party Ideas and Pop Sugar.