Sand Dollar Cookies

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sand dollar cookies

What’s Up, Hungry People

Nothing beats the beach for a vacation! Lounging in the sand and sun while the waves crash around you… it’s the epitome of relaxation. This past week, I had the joy of spending time with my entire extended family at a fancy beach house to celebrate my uncle’s birthday. Naturally, the beach setting was too good not to inspire a blog post or two.

Baking, for me, is the ultimate form of stress relief, so I whipped up some seaside-inspired cookies. We adore walking along the beach, searching for shells. Finding a sand dollar, especially for those of us hailing from landlocked regions, is always a treat.

cookies that look like sand dollars

Cinnamon sugar-coated sugar cookies are the perfect representation of sand dollars! I added a touch more cinnamon on each almond sliver to highlight the distinctive sand dollar markings.

The beauty of these cookies lies not only in their beachy charm but also in the simplicity of the ingredients required, yet they’re incredibly satisfying to the taste.

Here’s What You Need

  • Salted Butter: Adds richness and flavor, also helps in creating a tender texture.
  • Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and contributes to their golden color and crisp edges.
  • Egg: Binds the ingredients together, adding structure and richness.
  • Flour: The main dry ingredient, providing structure to the cookies.
  • Cinnamon: Gives a warm, spicy flavor, enhancing the cookie’s taste.
  • Slivered Almonds: Adds crunch and mimics the appearance of sand dollars.
sand dollar cookies on the beach

Let’s Cook

First thing’s first, heat your oven to 350°F so it’s ready to go when we are. Grab your stand mixer and cream together the salted butter, sugar, and egg until they’re smooth. This combo is the backbone of our cookies, giving them that rich flavor and tender texture we’re after. Now, add in the flour, half a cup at a time. We’re looking for a lumpy dough to form—if it’s sticking to your hands, sprinkle in a bit more flour. Too crumbly? A tablespoon of water will do the trick.

Shaping and Coating

Got an ice cream scoop? Use it to scoop out balls of dough. This keeps our cookies uniform, which means they’ll bake evenly. Roll those scoops between your palms to round them off. Next, let’s mix our extra sugar with cinnamon in a bowl. Roll your dough balls in this sweet-spicy mix until they’re well-coated.

Press and Decorate

Line your baking sheet with parchment or foil and place your dough balls on it. Take the flat bottom of a jar or glass and gently press down on each ball to flatten—aim for about ½ inch thickness. Now for the fun part: press five almond slivers into the center of each cookie, arranging them like the star pattern you see on real sand dollars.

Bake and Serve

Slide your baking sheet into the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when they’ve puffed up and look cooked through but not too browned. Fresh out of the oven, take a moment to brush a bit more cinnamon onto those almonds. It’s all about enhancing that sand dollar vibe. These cookies are best enjoyed warm or at room temperature, ideally with a view of the sea or at least a sea-themed playlist in the background.

Sand Dollar Cookies Tips

  • Measuring Flour Correctly: Use the spoon-and-level method to avoid dense cookies. Scoop flour into your measuring cup with a spoon, then level it off with the back of a knife. This prevents the flour from being overpacked, which can lead to dry, dense cookies.
  • Chilling the Dough: If you have time, chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking can help prevent spreading. This ensures the cookies maintain their shape better during baking, resulting in a more desirable texture.
  • Adjusting Cinnamon to Taste: The amount of cinnamon can be adjusted based on personal preference. If you love a stronger cinnamon flavor, feel free to add a bit more to the dough or the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Almond Placement: For a more realistic sand dollar look, try to place the almond slivers evenly and gently press them into the dough to ensure they stick during baking.
  • Cookie Thickness: Keeping the cookies around ½ inch thick ensures they bake evenly without burning or being undercooked in the middle. It’s the perfect thickness for a soft interior and slightly crisp edges.
  • Oven Temperature Accuracy: Ovens can vary, so using an oven thermometer can help ensure the accurate temperature for baking these cookies. Too high or too low temperatures can drastically affect the outcome.
  • Storing Cookies: These cookies store well in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. To maintain their crispness, place a piece of bread in the container to absorb excess moisture.

So there you have it, Hungry People, our very own sand dollar cookies that’ll bring a slice of the beach right to your kitchen. They’re simple, they’re tasty, and they carry a little bit of that seaside charm, no matter where you are.

Whether you’re looking to reminisce about your latest beach getaway or just in the mood for a cookie that’s a bit out of the ordinary, these treats are sure to fit the bill. Plus, they’re a fun way to involve the kids in the kitchen, letting them press in those almond slivers and watch as plain dough transforms into something special. So next time you’re longing for the sand and waves but can’t make the trip, whip up a batch of these cookies and let the flavors take you there.

beach cookies

Sand Dollar Cookies

The Starving Chef
These sand dollar cookies are a simple, cinnamon sugar-coated treat that perfectly mimics the seaside's charm.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Cookies
Cuisine Cookies, Summer
Servings 24 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup salted butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 ¼ cup flour
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon + more as needed
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup slivered almonds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, 2 cups of sugar, and the egg until smooth. Gradually add the flour, ½ cup at a time, and stir until a lumpy dough forms.
  • If the dough is too sticky, add more flour. If the dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of water. Use an ice cream scoop to measure out even-sized balls of dough. Roll the dough between your palms until it forms round balls.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together the ½ cup of sugar with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon (or more, as desired) to create the cinnamon sugar mixture. Gently toss the dough balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture, ensuring they are well coated. Arrange the coated balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.
  • Use the flat bottom of a jar or glass to flatten the cookies so they are about ½ inch thick. Press five almond slivers into the center of each cookie in a pattern similar to a sand dollar. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies have puffed up and are cooked through.
  • After baking, brush any remaining cinnamon onto the tops of the slivered almonds to help accentuate the sand dollar pattern on the cookies. Serve the cookies warm or at room temperature, perfect for a seaside snack or anytime treat. Enjoy!

Video

Keyword almonds, cinnamon, cookies, sugar
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