Daring to Recreate

Few weeks ago, Ivonne and Lis contacted me and asked if I want host July's Daring Baker Challenge, I got so excited. I immediately said yes! I was absolutely ecstatic. Once the novelty wore off, I actually got anxious for having the task of choosing a recipe that would please most people. It was a tie between Gale Gand and Marcel Desaulnier, but in the end, Gale won me over.

I must admit the reason I chose both Milan cookies and Mallow cookies is that I absolutely adore them. I used to eat one every day during school recess when I was a kid. Now, from time to time I still eat them as snack.

I actually was looking forward to making these cookies but I lost track of time and got so busy with work that I was only able to make the crust for the Mallow cookies which I plan on finishing hopefully sometime this week. Thankfully, the Milan cookies are easy enough that I could whip them up in mere hours.

Even after reading so much comments regarding the spreading tendency of the Milan cookies, I still didn't expect it to spread that much. My first batch of cookies turn out into a HUGE sheet of cookies * blush*. Which my little brother devoured. Is the batter suppose to be very flowy? like a very thick liquid? Piping isn't my forte either so my cookies are irregular in shapes and most of them doesn't match each other. However, I actually found it relaxing being the fact they baked very fast, mere 10 minutes per cookie sheet. In no time I was sandwiching the Milan cookies with the chocolate filling.

My first taste it doesn't actually taste like the Peppridge farm cookies, maybe I did something wrong though. They turned out chewy which is also good, it is just not what I have expected. I though they would turn out like buttery light cookies.

Maybe next time, I'll take more time and try to remake this again.


nikcreate

I'm a nine to five pencil pusher who loves to play with flour and paper during my free time. Dreams of going to Europe and eat croissants and make pastries all day long!

56 comments:

  1. Thanks for this fun task! I actually cheated a bit (I did a cupcake instead of a cookie for the base) but I loved learning to make marshmallow.

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  2. I had fun on this challenge, although I also still have to make the mallows. I will soon!

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  3. they look delicious! thanks for a great challenge!

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  4. glad you had a great time.
    I did too :D

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  5. What wonderful tasting cookies. Thank you for the challenge.

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  6. Thank you for this challenge! Your Milan cookies look great!

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  7. Anonymous10:43 PM

    Thanks for hosting, loved the milan cookies!!

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  8. Nicole, What a sweet challenge it was. Thank you!

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  9. Thank you for hosting the challenge Nicole.I did just the Mallows & they were oustanding! I ♥'d them to bits!! Gracias!

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  10. Never having seen either type of cookie before, this challenge was an eye-opener. So, thanks for this challenge.

    Yes, I thought these cookies would be crisper too. But I certainly improved my piping skills some more.:)

    The Mallows (not, in my case) were an absolute hit.

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  11. Thanks for the great challenge! It was tons of fun and your cookies look beautiful!!!

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  12. thanks for the challenge--they were great!

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  13. Thanks for this challenge - I loved making the marshmallow cookies! Your milan cookies look amazing =D.

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  14. This was a fun challenge. I adored the mallow cookies. Thanks for hosting for this month.

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  15. thanks for setting the task, Nicole - hadn't had Milanos in years!

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  16. oh wow! they look delicious!! yumm! thank you for the challenge! =)

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  17. thanks for hosting this month's challenge! it makes me feel so much better to know that you didn't get to both cookies either. :-)

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  18. Yours are beautiful! Thanks for hosting, it was a fun challenge!

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  19. Anonymous3:36 AM

    Thank you so much for choosing this fun challenge! I don't make cookies often, but this is a perfect excuse for me to practise some more. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks again!

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  20. Those look great! Thanks so much for hosting a wonderful challenge. I really enjoyed this!

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  21. Thanks for this fun challenge! Well, not fun all the time.. haha... I didn't get around to doing both recipes, so still have the milan cookies to do at some later point! Your cookies look delicious!

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  22. I love that you put your milano cookies in the foil holders like they arrive in a store-bought package. Clever! Great job on the challenge!

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  23. merci pour le choix de ces recettes, c'était assez génial à réaliser :)

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  24. Thank you for this fun challenge! I really enjoyed the marshmallow cookies!

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  25. Anonymous6:41 AM

    Thanks for this great challenge. I had plenty of fun making the milanos!

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  26. Thanks for hosting the challenge! I had a blast baking the cookies - I made both. I was glad for the inspiration to finally make homemade marshmallows!

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  27. Your cookies are very beautiful!
    Thanks for the great challenge!

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  28. Anonymous9:21 AM

    I cried out when I saw your photos of food. Stunning work! I like the mixture of art and food!

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  29. oh wow! I'm so glad that you guys had a blast! I did too! :D

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  30. Nicole..thank you for a really fun challenge! It definitely brought out the creativity in many!

    That said, your Milans are gorgeous..love the oozing ganache and perfect shape :)

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  31. Thank you very much for a very fun and definitely delicious challenge! Making the mallows was like taking a trip down memory lane as marshmallow puffs were my favourite childhood treat.

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  32. You have such a beautiful blog and these cookies look awesome.

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  33. Thanks for the superfun challenge and I'm glad I wasn't the only one who ran into trouble with the Milans! Loved making marshmallows for the first time :)

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  34. Thanks Nicole for picking these recipes. I only made the milano cookies and they were fantastic. I will try the mallow tomorrow maybe.

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  35. Thanks Nicole for this recipe and wonderful challenge I enjoyed and learnt a lot in this challenge.
    Great pictures and your cookies look so delicious :)

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  36. This was a fun challenge! Like you, I thought the Pep Farm Milanos tasted a lot better but these were still pretty darned close. Whatever it was, it was a lot of fun to make! Thanks for hosting!!

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  37. This was a fun challenge! Like you, I thought the Pep Farm Milanos tasted a lot better but these were still pretty darned close. Whatever it was, it was a lot of fun to make! Thanks for hosting!!

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  38. Great cookies Nicole. Thanks for hosting this month.

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  39. Thanks for this challenge! I have friends demanding I send them my version of milans across the country...

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  40. Anonymous9:53 PM

    Thanks for the challenge. I made the mellow cookies and hope to make the milan sometime in the future!

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  41. Thanks for the fab challenge

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  42. Thanks for picking some great recipes! I too ate these cookies often as a kid, so they brought back some great memories. I will be making both kinds again for sure.

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  43. Thanks for the challenge! I learned quite a bit about baking cookies and that having the right tools kind of helps :)

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  44. Great choice for the month! Your cookies look incredibly perfect!

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  45. Wonderful Challenge! Thank you! Never thought I'd be making marshmallow. :)

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  46. Hi Nicole!

    I just wanted to stop by and introduce myself. I’m Joy (of Hot Oven, Warm Heart) and I’m also one of the “newbie” SMS members. So far the experience has been wonderful, and it’s been such a treat getting to know many of the other bakers. I’m glad we’ll be baking together each week, and I hope we can stay in touch and talk after Sunday postings!

    Congratulations on the opportunity to host for the Daring Bakers Challenge! Your cookies look simply delectable. If you have a chance- I'd love for you to stop by my site and say a quick hi- it'd be great to hear from you :)

    Hope you have a good rest of your week and a fun and relaxing weekend!

    -Joy

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  47. Thank you so much for this challenge. YOu've been a gracious hostess!

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  48. Delicious looking! This was such a fun challenge, especially the marshmallow part :) Thank you!

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  49. Thank for hosting this month's DBers challenge - it was so much fun especially the marshmallows and we don't have Milanos in Australia so it was a little surprising how crisp and tasty they were. And your Milanos are just perfect. Cheers from Audax

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  50. Thank you for choosing these recipes- It was one of the most enjoyable challenges we've had in a long time, in my opinion!

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  51. One question though - Are thawed egg whites already considered as aged egg whites?

    Answer - Pierre Hermes the most famous French macaron maker recommends NOT to use thawed egg whites his says "that the thawing process breaks the protein structure" I have only used aged egg whites with egg white powder. I will be posting some more pictures about macarons in the next few days if you are interested

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  52. I've been doing some research and most good people do say you can use frozen egg whites but you have to age them. Of course you could microwave them med power 10-20 secs as Helen of Tartelette suggests. Looking 4ward to your finished macarons.

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  53. Thanks for the lovely recipes, I made only the MIlan cookies but really enjoyed them. Yours look beautiful, love photo shot.

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  54. Anonymous9:11 AM

    It was a great challenge! Thanks so much for giving me two new cookies to add to my collection!!

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  55. Those milanos looked PERFECT!
    A job well done

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  56. Anonymous2:42 PM

    Wow... What a wonderful dish? Image itself impressed me a lot. I like this dish very much. Keep on doing...
    Buy domain

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