New Year peanut cookie from China
In China roads, train stations and airports are clogged this time of year as millions of people travel home to celebrate New Year with their families. According to the Chinese lunar calendar the Year of the Horse starts on January 31. During the festivities people wear red and give red presents as the color symbolizes good fortune and happiness. Food is at the centre of many celebrations and you have to fill up on auspicious edibles to be sure of a good year. Have you been unlucky in love? Eat tangerines for more luck next year. Do you want to be richer? Oranges are a symbol for wealth. Peanuts symbolize a long life so these New Year peanut cookies are a popular treat during the festivities. And as recent medical research declared nuts the new super food these peanut cookies may indeed help to lengthen your life – even if you do not believe in Chinese symbolism. If you like this cookie, try my variation: macadamia tangerine cookie.
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simple ingredients
New Year peanut cookies from China
for about 20 cookies
200 grams (roasted) unsalted peanuts
75 grams icing sugar
100 grams flour
60 milliliters peanut oil
pinch of salt
1 egg yolk, beaten
roast the peanuts
If you cannot find roasted peanuts roast the unsalted peanuts in a dry pan until golden and shiny.
Blend into a paste
Blend the nuts into a fine paste in the food processor.
ready for mixing
Add the icing sugar, the flour, the oil and the salt.
shiny dough
Mix into a smooth and shiny dough in the food processor.
little balls of dough
Divide the dough into pieces of 20 grams and roll into little balls. Put them on a cookie sheet covered with baking paper.
Make a little pattern
Press a little pattern with the cap of a felt tip pen on top of the little balls. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180 °C.
brush with egg wash
Brush the top of the Chinese New Year peanut cookie with some egg wash and bake in the middle of the oven for 15-20 min. Take from the oven and leave to cool on the cookie sheet.
This post is also available in: Dutch
