Petit Four

Petit four are small cookies, usually eaten in a bite or two with a cup of tea. They originated in the 18th century where they were cooked in small ovens – petite fours. Whether dry or iced, they make the perfect afternoon dessert.

Ingredients:
• 1 cup soft butter
• ¾ cup powdered- icing sugar
• 1 large egg
• ½ teaspoon of vanilla
• 2 ½ cup of flour
• 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder for chocolate flavored petits fours
• ½ teaspoon of baking powder

Directions:
• Preheat oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• With a hand held electric mixer, beat the butter until it turns white. Then add the egg, ice sugar, and the vanilla. Mix them very well until they turn into a creamy mixture.
• Add the flour and baking powder together, and then add it slowly to the butter mixture while beating. This mixture should turn into a ball of dough.
• Place this dough into a bowl and let rest in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Cut the dough into 2 pieces. Knead one part of the dough with the cocoa powder and leave the other part without.
• Using the cookie cutter, form the wanted shapes.
• Bake them at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
• After they cool down, take one of each color and place any type of fruit jam in the middle to form a stuffed cookie.

*icing can give an added taste to the cookies. Garnish with nuts, or almonds.