Chocolate Teapot Cookies - CBC 8

I know what you are thinking.  But I couldn't help myself!!!  I was on the net buying supplies for my Tuesday night class (I have two cake orders by the way - one for a friends 50th birthday and Hubby's birthday too but I'll share more in them later!) and I just 'happened' [ahem] to come across the cookie cutter section and look what I found ... a teapot shaped cookie cutter.  The tea towel draw won't hold anywhere near as many tea towels as it once used to as it also houses my cookie cutter collection but I just had to have this one.  What is a girl supposed to do when faced with such a discovery?  Especially when the cookie cutter was made just for her blog.  Surely this was destiny ... don't you think?

Have I justified myself yet?  Maybe I should just get to the recipe then ;0)

Vanilla Sugar Cookies
200g unsalted soft butter
200g vanilla caster sugar
1 vanilla pod, seeds scrapped
1 egg, lightly beaten
400g plain flour, plus more for dusting
To Decorate
1 batch tempered chocolate
1 Chocolate transfer sheet

In an electric mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla seeds until well mixed and just creamy in texture.  Do not overwork, or the cookies will spread during baking.

Beat in the egg until well combined.  Add the flour and mix on low speed until a dough forms.  Gather into a ball, wrap in cling film and chill for at least 1 hour.

Place the dough on a floured surface and knead briefly.  Using two 5mm guide sticks (yep - bought them when I got the cookie cutter, feel like a professional now lol), roll out to an even thickness.

Use a (teapot shaped!) cookie cutter to cut out cookies.  Using a palette knife, lay on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper.  Chill again for about 30 mins.  Preheat the oven to 180C.

Bake for 8 - 12 mins, depending on size, until golden brown at the edges.  Let cool on a wire rack.

When cool, dip half of each cookie into melted, tempered chocolate and lay on greaseproof paper to set.  Place a chocolate transfer strip over the top of the chocolate while it dries. 

Once the chocolate has set, remove the plastic baking paper to reveal your decorated cookies.

Makes 24 large cookies
Peggy Porschen's Pretty Party Cakes

I manged to get 12 cookies cut out today, the rest of the dough mixture is sitting in the fridge waiting for me to make some more.  The left over chocolate is sitting tight as well.  Just as well because the teapots aren't hanging around for long ;0)