Milano Cookie Tuile
Daring Baker challenge to the extreme indeed, I am actually writing this post on my iphone as I am waiting to board my flight to Malaysia in half an hour. I feel bad that I missed out on the last two baking challenges so no matter what, I have to get this post up right on time! Hence, here it is – I give you my version of the Milano Cookies.
The July Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Nicole at Sweet Tooth. She chose Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies and Milan Cookies from pastry chef Gale Gand of the Food Network.
I’ve decided to give the Milano Cookies recipe a try and make a deconstructed version as the main dessert for a degustation dinner I’ve prepared recently.
I followed the recipe to a tee and it works like a charm. The cookie is so airy and crumbly, I have to be extra careful when giving them a nice curve over wine bottles wrapped in foils. I’ve snapped quite a few of them as I picked them up and they are so fragile even in the container.
As for the chocolate filling, inspired by Adriano Zumbo, I’ve made a pop rocks chocolate ganache as the centerpiece. Who would have thought pop corn can be so tasty with chocolate… Yummmm.
As the Milano Cookie is plated as a dessert for a dinner, and also to use up the leftover egg yolks after making the cookies, I also whipped up a choc chip mandarin ice cream to go with it.
I’ve used Green & Black’s organic dark chocolate with orange and spices flavour to give the ice cream a nice aromatic citrus flavour. I also added sugar caramelised mandarin rind for that extra tang and something to chew on on every mouthful.
Thank you so much for the challenge. Much fun and really enjoy the recipe. (Apologies for the short post, as internet is scarce as limited while on vacation)
Milan Cookies
Recipe courtesy Gale Gand, from Food Network website
• 12 tablespoons (170grams/ 6 oz) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups (312.5 grams/ 11.02 oz) powdered sugar
• 7/8 cup egg whites (from about 6 eggs)
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons lemon extract
• 1 1/2 cups (187.5grams/ 6.61 oz) all purpose flour
• Cookie filling, recipe follows
Cookie filling:
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 orange, zested
1. In a mixer with paddle attachment cream the butter and the sugar.
2. Add the egg whites gradually and then mix in the vanilla and lemon extracts.
3. Add the flour and mix until just well mixed.
4. With a small (1/4-inch) plain tip, pipe 1-inch sections of batter onto a parchment-lined sheet pan, spacing them 2 inches apart as they spread.
5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes or until light golden brown around the edges. Let cool on the pan.
6. While waiting for the cookies to cool, in a small saucepan over medium flame, scald cream.
7. Pour hot cream over chocolate in a bowl, whisk to melt chocolate, add zest and blend well.
8. Set aside to cool (the mixture will thicken as it cools).
9. Spread a thin amount of the filling onto the flat side of a cookie while the filling is still soft and press the flat side of a second cookie on top.
10. Repeat with the remainder of the cookies.
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
That is the most creative Milano I’ve seen thus far! It is absolutely beautiful, and the popcorn over the ganache is brilliant (when I go to the movies, I shove popcorn and chocolate into my mouth at the same time, so I know that taste is awesome!) LOL Magnificent job and spectacular photos! WTG!
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Milanos or Mallomars? No need to run to the Supermarket. =-.
What am I seeing!!! Bloody brilliant work and the photos are superb. You take on this challenge is so inventive and breath-taking BRAVO wonderful effort. I hope the trip goes well. Cheers from Audax in Sydney.
.-= Audax Artifex´s last blog ..July Daring Bakers’ Challenge – Milanos & Mallows =-.
so pretty! love the presentation of it, and ahhh the dinner party dessert is finally revealed!
.-= Helen (GrabYourFork)´s last blog ..Gumshara Ramen, Eating World, Haymarket Chinatown, Sydney =-.
These are beautiful!!! I love how you deconstructed them!
you wrote this post on your iphone? dude thats awesome! i can feel the pain of typing each letter with the tip of your finger! pics are gorgeous as usual hope you have heaps of fun in the land of cheap and super yummy food
Looks awesome and delicious! And posted from your iPhone! I really need to get myself one…
.-= Forager´s last blog ..A Kreativ Blogger Award! =-.
This is impressive!!
.-= Ellie@AlmostBourdain´s last blog ..Milan / Milano Cookies – Daring Bakers’ July 2009 Challenge =-.
so incredibly spectacular! The best I’ve seen from the challenge!
Woah, looks great! I love the creativity (and wish I could taste some
.-= lili – pikelet & pie´s last blog ..Milan Cookies – Daring Bakers July Challenge =-.
es increible…irresistible
.-= cookemila´s last blog ..mallows fussion DBS julio con acento spanish =-.
what can I say that others haven’t said already? I am in awe.
oh yum, i want to try one now. one word for you ‘MASTERCHEF’. you have try out!
.-= Simon Food Favourites´s last blog ..Homemade Crumbed Chicken (25 July 2009) =-.
I really really love the shape of your milano cookies!!! So creative!
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Marshmallowkoekjes =-.
Oh WOOW! They look like works of art/delicate flowers not to be eaten! (but eat I would hee hee)
.-= FFichiban´s last blog ..Boon The Chocolate Experience – Darlinghurst, Sydney (3) =-.
Your cookies turned out so beautifully! Absolutely breathtaking!
.-= Karen´s last blog ..Daring Bakers Challenge: Milan Cookies =-.
WOW!!
Your cookies amazing!!!
.-= pontch´s last blog ..Mallow & Milan Cookies – Daring Bakers =-.
Awesome, awesome photos! Well done. Have fun balik kampung
.-= shaz´s last blog ..Mallow Mania – Daring Baker’s July Challenge =-.
I LOVE the deconstructed Milano! Fantastic idea, and beautiful presentation!
.-= Julie´s last blog ..Milan Cookies =-.
This is absolutely gorgeous .. the best I have seen so far. I am speechless.
.-= jo´s last blog ..Tea Time Treats with Mallows and Milan Cookies =-.
oh my god, it’s just too pretty to eat!
.-= Yas´s last blog ..The roti heaven – Mamak =-.