Cocinando con Alena

Alice’s Tea Cup, which is owned by the sisters Haley Fox and Lauren Fox, is known for its scones, but the chainlet of teahouses in New York also makes pastries, cakes and other treats. This recipe is an adaptation of a chocolate chip cake with mocha frosting that originated with the Fox sisters’ mother. The cake has a tender crumb, and the frosting is silky and rich. Ingredients: FOR THE CAKE 113 grams (1/2 cup or 1 stick) salted butter, softened, more for pans 250 grams (2 1/4 cups) sifted unbleached all-purpose flour, more for pans 300 grams (1 1/3 cups) turbinado sugar 2 large eggs 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup milk (2 percent or whole) ¾ cup to 1 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips, roughly chopped; or mini chocolate chips FOR THE FROSTING 360 grams (3 cups) confectioners’ sugar 226 grams (1 cup) salted butter, softened ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tables

Summer is the best time of the year, and during these cold winter days, sometimes it can seem like summer will never get here!  Citrus fruits are at their seasonal peak during the darkest and coldest part of the year (now), and these Lemon Butter Cookies are just the ticket to remind me that summer, okay spring, is okay weeks away. Lemon Butter Cookies Ingredients: For the Cookies: 1 cup & 2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour 1/3 cup Sugar 1 1/2 tablespoon Lemon Zest, finely grated 7 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, cut into 1/4″ cubes 1 Egg Yolk For the Glaze: 1 cup Powdered Sugar 3 tablespoons Lemon Juice, fresh Directions: For the Cookies: In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar and lemon zest. Add the chilled butter and cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Add in the egg yolk and using a fork, stir until blended. Using your hands, gently knead the bough until it comes together and forms a ball. (Note: If