October 27, 2013

Halloween is coming (I think...)

Needless to say, Halloween is just a few days away.  It's been relatively quiet around here in my neck of the woods...I think we're managing our expectations about Halloween.  You see...for those of us in the New Jersey and surrounding areas, Halloween's been "canceled" by Mother Nature for the last two years.  I'm talking major storms, extended power outages, and gas shortages so missing out on Halloween was the least of our concerns.  But with that in mind, I think many of us are taking a "let's see..." and "we'll believe it when it happens..." kind of a stance on it.
It's looking good though.  I'm hopeful the kids will finally get to trick-or-treat on the actual day of Halloween and have a chance to enjoy their parade, assemblies and parties at school this year. Personally, I'm not a big fan of Halloween (sorry!) but as a mom, I feel an obligation to mark the occasion and work up some enthusiasm.  So my little ninja and I will be trick-or-treating and enjoying all the celebrations this coming Thursday.
On the home base, I whipped up these spiderweb cookies.  I'm not into anything ghoulish so I stick with cute treats when I make any for Halloween.  This year, I saw spiderweb florentines in Martha Stewart Living (yes, I said Martha - and no, we won't go there...) that seemed like a fun thing to whip up.  Instead of using the florentine recipe from the magazine, I went with my favorite tuile recipe - these almond-butterscotch ones - and added the simple dark chocolate spiderweb design on top. It's not all that different from when I drizzled them rather haphazardly with chocolate for the holidays
These simple spiderweb cookies are just my type of Halloween treat. And whenever I think of these types of thin, crispy, lace cookies (or tuiles/florentines), I always think ice cream.  Their crispiness goes so well as a contrast to smooth, creamy ice cream so naturally, I had to serve them together!

Have a fun and safe Halloween, everyone!

Tuiles are really easy to make - you literally just warm and stir 5 ingredients together (in this case: butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, flour, and almonds) in a small saucepan or skillet to make the batter. It only takes about 2 teaspoons of batter to make one of these and you can store any you don't make right away in the refrigerator for a week.  

That way, you can bake a few as needed and serve them fresh with a bowl of ice-cream (of course)! Better yet, take the tuiles straight out of the oven and gently press them on top of an upturned cup or bowl to make a serving dish for your ice cream.  They are fun and delicious at the same time.


Recipe:

Spiderweb Tuiles
Tuile recipe adapted from Ready for Dessert by David Lebovitz (originally Pecan-Butterscotch Tuiles) and idea from Martha Stewart

(Please see this previous post for lots of details, as well as this one)

- Approximately 18 cookies, depending on size -

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup firmly-packed light brown sugar
1/4 light corn syrup
1/4 cup very finely chopped almonds (or other nut of your choice)
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a saucepan or small skillet, melt the butter along with the brown sugar and corn syrup over low heat.  Once the mixture is melted evenly, add the flour and nuts and stir until combined.  Let batter cool slightly and you can use it right away or transfer it to a small container, cover, and refrigerate for up to one week.

To bake tuiles, drop 2-teaspoon mounds of batter onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You can use wet fingertips to round out the mounds so they spread more evenly as they bake.  Place no more than 4 mounds on each baking sheet and space them well apart since they spread a lot.

Bake until tuiles spread and turn golden brown, roughly 7 minutes, rotating the pan mid-way and keeping an careful eye on them toward the end (remove them before they get too dark). 

Let the tuiles cool for about a minute (they harden very quickly) before lifting them up with a metal spatula and transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.  Repeat with the rest of the batter.  

Place melted chocolate into a resealable plastic bag and snip off a tiny corner.  Pipe chocolate onto tuiles in a spiral, starting in the center and working outward.  Make lines from the outside and in, repeating all around until you have a spiderweb pattern.  Let tuiles sit at room temperature, or refrigerate, until chocolate sets before serving.  

These tuiles are best fresh, eaten the same day they were made while they're crisp so it's a good idea to bake what you need and save leftover batter for later.  If that's not practical, however, I've had success storing the baked cookies in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for a few days (they stayed crisp).  And don't forget: tuiles are an excellent accompaniment to ice cream!


59 comments:

  1. oh these are soooo cute, what a great idea! i hope you have a wonderful halloween :)
    the hobbit kitchen x

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    1. Thanks, Holly. I have to hop over to your hobbit kitchen now...

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  2. Tuilles go fantastic with ice-cream! Yours came out so pretty, I love them ;)

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    1. Thanks, Consuelo. I love tuiles of all kinds...probably because they are so good with ice cream! haha

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  3. I totally hear you about Halloween being cancelled the last 2 years, but this year we finally are going to get one (I hope!) No snowstorms or hurricanes can stop us! These are so so cute, so festive!

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    1. fingers crossed, Pamela, fingers crossed! I know people whose little kids have never had a proper Halloween...really crazy. I have a good feeling about this year. You enjoy it!

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  4. I am not Halloween person either and just like you if I have to create something I'd rather go with something cute than spooky. And these cookies are just that! I love the idea of serving ice cream in them too...lovely textures!

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    1. Thank you! Not having really grown up with Halloween (in Hong Kong til I was a youngster), it's not my favorite holiday. I like cute-Halloween though. : )

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  5. These look so adorable and cute Monica! I love how nice the webs looks, they turned out perfectly! My hubby adores Halloween and Christmas so he always makes sure to have everything out and ready weeks ahead lol. I will be hoping for a storm-free Halloween for you and everyone else and that you and your lil guy will finally get to enjoy this year :)

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    1. Thanks, Kelly! The weather's been awesome so far - fingers crossed! Hope your little guy (and your hubby, too) have a great Halloween. I can't wait for Christmas!!

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  6. These look soooo cute! And perfect to serve with ice cream :-) I have a pumpkin ice cream recipe I'd like to try with these... I'll let you know if I get round to trying it!

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    1. Oh, with pumpkin ice cream! That sounds so perfect - I should've paired these with that...Trader Joe's here in the States has a pumpkin ice cream I've been hearing about. : )

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  7. I love eating tuiles but have (gasp) yet to attempt them in my own kitchen! FOR SHAME. This spiderweb version is downright adorable! And I am keeping my fingers crossed for a smooth and uneventful halloween also!

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    1. Yes - an uneventful, safe, storm-free Halloween for us, please! Storm-free winter would be great! Tuiles are crazy simple...I never realized til I tried.

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  8. These are so cute! I don't know what it is about making spiderwebs ... but I just love the way they look on treats! I could definitely go for one of these on top of a nice bowl of ice cream : )

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    1. I agree about spiderwebs...kinda harmful for all ages and people. : ) I want some ice cream now!

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  9. Tuiles are one of those cookies I haven't gotten up the nerve to attempt because they seem like they're really hard to make. I love what you did with your chocolate garnishes on these, Monica :) Especially the "boo!" Have fun trick-or-treating!!!

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    1. I always thought that too, Amy. I took a cooking class around junior high school and I would hang out in the kitchen and I remember someone made tuiles and I had a taste and loved them. Fast forward years later and I couldn't believe how easy it is to make when I did. Stir in a skillet and use! Just need to watch and pull them out before they get too brown. Real easy. I like molding them to make bowls, too. Anyway, glad you like it...The "boo" is as creative as I get..for real!

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  10. LoL, the spide web is cutie for me...
    Happy halloween then, i guess better be late thatn never.....

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  11. Hi Monica, I like these Tuile spider webs. My daughter has invited some of her friends on Halloween night, this would be a perfect dessert. Check your previous and other posts later in the evening. Have a good day.

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    1. Sounds like it will be a fun night for your daughter. Have a great one! I hope you give the tuiles a try...it is great if you have a crowd. : )

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  12. Monica, these are so cute and festive! I love the idea of serving this on the side with some ice cream. I hope the weather this year is calm enough for your son to go trick-or-treating. I remember loving it when I was a kid. Halloween was my absolute favorite time of the year. Have a great week! :)

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    1. Yeah, I thought it looked like some kind of spiderweb hat a crazy lady might wear when I put it on the bowl of ice cream. : ) Weather is looking good so far, thanks! You have a good one, too.

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  13. I totally saw these (or the idea-ish for them) in the Martha Stewart magazine, bookmarked for Halloween, then FORGOT ALL ABOUT THEM UNTIL NOW! And now it's obviously too late because how am I going to make them in time to post them for Halloween!? HOW? I will just have to post yours instead!

    and you just HAD to mention serving them with ice cream! I am totally snagging these when I steal Shannon's ice cream party idea for my other half's bday <3

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    1. Hi Natalie - sounds good to me! : ) I'm glad I reminded you about them even if it's too late for you to make them. There's always next year... Shannon's ice cream party sounds so awesome. It might be my ideal way of celebrating a birthday. All I need in life (food wise) is chocolate and ice cream. : )

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  14. Those spiderweb cookies are so festive and fun!

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  15. I'm also more into the cute Halloween treats as opposed to the "ghoulish" types. I love your spiderweb cookies. They look so perfect and delicious (:

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    1. Thanks, Monica. They are crisp yet chewy like caramel and the dark chocolate is a great balance. You must have it with ice cream! : )

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  16. I LOVE these little cookies, and these are so perfect for Halloween! Elegant but fun!

    Cheryl
    http://thestylistquo.com

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    1. Thanks - they're easy, tasty, and festive, I think... : )

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  17. Love tuille on my ice cream and this is perfect for Halloween!!

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    1. Something crunchy is so good with ice cream, particularly if it's a "plain" ice cream without any mix-ins.

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  18. I'm one of those spoil sport moms who doesn't encourage the whole Halloween thing. We don't do it. But I do enjoy what everyone posts, it's always so cute, just like these spiderweb cookies!

    Nazneen

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    1. I like cute, too, Nazneen. I'm not big on Halloween but I do try to celebrate a bit with my little one. We'll trick or treat and have a good day, I hope. : )

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  19. I love tuiles, but have never made them myself. They look really cute!

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    1. They don't seem to be something anyone thinks to make. I always think of them as accompaniments to dessert at a restaurant or maybe something on a holiday platter. They're really easy though. Thanks!

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  20. What a great idea turning these tuile cookies into a spider web cookie for Halloween! Looks yummy too. How fun to be festive with baking :)

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    1. As you were saying, Martha and her peeps have usually thought of everything. : )

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  21. I love halloween.. This looks so festive and appetizing :) I love the boo in it ;)

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    1. haha - thanks..that's as "creative" as I get!

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  22. Those cookies are so fun and festive, Monica! I am with you on the Halloween thing. I love this time of year, but Halloween itself, and particularly the costumes are just not my favorite. I guess being a mom means you have to just embrace it though!

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    1. Thanks, Jess! I do have to work up some enthusiasm for it as part of my mommy "job" description. My little one is ga-ga over it and the prospect of all the candy coming on Thursday. I just hope he'll share some Kit Kats with me. ; )

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  23. I'm not a fan of Halloween either! But these cookies look easy and delicious and perfect for this time of year!

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    1. Thanks, Dawn. Here's to a calm Halloween tomorrow!

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  24. Monica - I just love lace cookies and this is such a smart and creative idea. The chocolate drizzle is perfect!

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    1. I adore lace cookies, too, Tricia. They are special...and adding dark chocolate to something always makes it better! ; )

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  25. I agree--doing cute Halloween treats is more fun! The gross stuff is not for me at all. I like the spiderwebs--good job with such neat, pretty work.

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    1. Yeah - I can totally get behind spiderwebs, spiders, owls but not the real gross stuff. Maybe it'll be a different story when my son is older though...I don't know.

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  26. I really hope you'll be able to celebrate Halloween this year! I love how creative these cookies are.. Are you going to be handing these out to the trick-or-treaters?

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    1. Thank you - my son had the "best" Halloween, according to him. A little light rain early but it was fairly dry throughout trick-or-treating. He got quite a haul so all is well (and I'm exhausted). Oh...I didn't hand any of these out to trick or treaters...I think, in general, homemade treats are not common or recommended for Halloween. : )

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    2. Aww, that's sad to hear actually.. I think homemade treats would be awesome for it! Then again, I've never celebrated Halloween so I wouldn't really know how to go about celebrating it ;)

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  27. These webbed Florentines are fabulous for Halloween!! I love the subtlety. A nod to festivities without any green or orange icing in sight! Good job.

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    1. I'm sure my little one would prefer tons of colorful icing instead of this but we compromise. : )

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