12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Day 11: Angry Birds' One Flew Over The Bad Piggies' Castle Egg Yolk Cookies

These may be the strangest cookies to hit this blog yet, but when I saw them on on the Cooking Channel's Facebook page, I knew I had to make them. 

When I looked at the recipe, I was utterly confused.  What did this have to do with Angry Birds? Besides the fact that the ingredient were totally random and strange. Lemon. Cocoa powder. Chili. What???

But then it was the eggs. Oh yes... the eggs. Lots of them. 6 yolks, to be exact. So that's it. It was the eggs. 

You know, the ones you are on a constant quest to rescue because those awful pigs are stealing them?

I find that Angry Birds unites people.  I can't tell you how many times I've played Angry Birds on the subway and someone has struck up a conversation with me telling me how much they LOVE that game. There was the dad, who was so emphatic about how great the game was because his "son" played it all of the time. I knew that "son" was a codeword for himself, because he knew far too much about the levels and intricacies of the birds.  There were the Brazlian tourists, 6 teenagers, who crowded around me and gave me tips on how to beat a tricky level. There was the man who walked on the subway and if I didn't know it, I would have thought he was one of those strange people you try to avoid on the subway, but when he saw me playing Angry Birds, he expressed his love for the game and we got into a long conversation (and taught me not to judge people!).  

But my favorite moment was when, sitting in a quiet subway car, I heard someone scream out "Roll, you fat pig!!!"  People around smiled knowingly, but what was so funny was that the guy didn't even look up as if he did anything wrong. He just pumped his fist victoriously and I knew that that pig had, in fact, rolled. 

Angry Birds unites people. 

And it knows how to keep you addicted.  I'll play a game for a few weeks and then be done with it. But Angry Birds I've been addicted to for two years because they keep inventing levels and new birds! I wish they'd get rid of some other birds though. I shudder when I get that Boomerang Pecan.  The Oatmeal has a great chart about Angry Birds.  

Excuse the language, but seriously, he hits it right on the nose. 

But back to the cookies.  These cookies are SO ODDLY ADDICTIVE, just like Angry Birds themselves. I liked them better the next day, when the flavors of lemon, cocoa and chili (I know, I know...) had mellowed and had married beautifully. Seriously, the combo sounds gross, but trust me when I say you don't even taste the flavors independently. The meld into one glorious, soft, chewy little cookie that oddly tastes like Trix Cereal. 

I know. Don't ask. Just make. 

 

Angry Birds' One Flew Over The Bad Piggies' Castle Egg Yolk Cookies adapted from The Cooking Channel

COOKIES:

• 1 cup of butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 6 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Topping

• 1/4 cup of powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Cream together the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about three minutes. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks, then beat in the extracts and cinnamon. Add the beaten egg yolk mixture to the creamed butter and sugar and blend well. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cocoa powder and cream of tartar. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mix until well blended. Take a spoonful into your palm and form into 1-inch balls. Roll them in sugar and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat mat.  If the dough feels soft from rolling into a ball, refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Slightly flatten before placing in the preheated oven. Bake until firm and slightly golden at the edges, 12 to 14 minutes.

For the topping: whisk together the sugar, cocoa, chili powder and cinnamon for the topping.

Dust cookies with topping while still warm.

 

Comments

[Sabrina]

Angry Birds make me ANGRY! Well those darn smug pigs do!!!!! But yet, I keep playing!

Those cookies sound so odd and yet I really want to make them now!

[Pola]

Thanks for your guidance

[Wholesale Snapbacks Hats]

Very interesting and informative blog. Hope we get some updates

[Ashley]

What an intriguing cookie!! I'll definitely keep it in mind the next time I have extra egg yolks.