Temecula Wine Country Chefs Share Favorite Cookie Recipes

TEMECULA, CA — Well into the first week of December, Temecula Valley's bakers are churning out some of the sweetest treats in the area.

Visit Temecula Valley's spokesperson, Norma Marlowe, discussed gathering the recipes for residents and visitors to enjoy. From Small Barn Old Town, a quaint historic spot with one of the most beautiful grounds you'll find to the outskirts of Temecula Valley Wine Country, with sweeping vistas and views, these cookie recipes are sure to inspire your holiday baking.

"In Temecula, we live glass full, and this time of year, we live plate full," she said. "Enjoy these holiday cookie recipes provided by Temecula Valley restaurant chefs to enjoy during the holidays."

Find the following recipes on their website:

• Europa Village: Brown Butter & Spice Cookies (Recipe below)
• Small Barn: Chocolate Chip Cookies (Recipe below)

Europa Village: Brown Butter & Spice Cookie Recipe

Pastry Cream
Ingredients for the Pastry Cream

• 2 c Milk
• 6 tbsp Sugar
• Salt, pinch
• 3 tbsp Cornstarch
• 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
• 4 each Egg Yolks
• 3 tbsp butter

Place milk and half of the sugar in a saucepan and turn on medium heat.
In a separate bowl, mix yolks, cornstarch, and the other half of the sugar.
Temper egg mixture with warm milk.

Whisk eggs with the milk, add vanilla extract, and salt. Continue whisking until the desired thickness is reached.

Remove from heat and add butter.

Cool with plastic wrap directly on the cream so that a film does not form.

Cookie Recipe

Ingredients for Cookies

• 1 c Brown Butter, softened
• 1 c Sugar
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 Eggs, room temp
• 2 ½ c All Purpose Flour
• ¾ tsp Baking Powder
• ½ tsp Salt
• ½ tsp Cinnamon
• ¼ tsp Nutmeg
• ¼ tsp Clove

Place butter in a pan over medium heat, let it melt, leave for 5 – 8 minutes, or until milk solids on the bottoms of the pan toast. Remove from heat and let cool.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugar until it is light/pale in color and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add in eggs slowly, one at a time. Mix until fully incorporated.

Sift together all dry ingredients.

Add dry ingredients to the wet ones in the mixer and mix on a low speed until the dough no longer sticks to the side of the bowl.

Wrap dough with plastic and place in the fridge for 1 hr before rolling out.

Roll out dough to ¼ - 1/8” thickness and cut with a desired cookie cutter – in this case, a gingerbread man.

Bake for 9 – 10 minutes at 350 F or until the edges start to turn brown.
Assemble:

Once the cookies are cooled, add the pastry cream on top of the cookie.

Use a pastry torch and lightly burn the top of the pastry cream for a slightly crunchy crème brûlée texture.

Decorate with any additional decorations of your choosing.

Small Barn -Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

• 1/2 lb butter unsalted, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tbl salt, kosher
• 3 cups flours
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (Guittard or similar)
• Dark chocolate pistoles or chunks (Cordellera or similar)
• 1 tbl vanilla bean, paste

Instructions:

1. Mix in a tabletop mixer sugar and butter together for about 4 minutes.
2. Slowly add eggs until fully incorporated.
3. Next add all dry ingredients little by little until fully incorporated.
4. Scrape down sides and add vanilla bean paste and chocolate chips.
5. Slowly mix until chocolate chips are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
6. Bake at 325°F for 12‐15 minutes.

More Recipes:

• E.A.T. Marketplace: Oh Christmas Tree Cookie (Gluten Free)
• Oak Mountain Winery: Butter Pecan Balls
• Ponte Winery: Italian Almond CookiesSmall Barn: Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Wilson Creek Winery: EBTKS Cookies (Everything But The Kitchen Sink)
• Avensole Winery: Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

You can find all the recipes and detailed instructions on making them from area chefs on the www.VisitTemeculaValley.com website.

Related:

Temecula Wine Country's Europa Village Announces Opening Of Vienza