Homemade Gelt Recipes

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl until combined.
• Add the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the peanut butter and continue beating until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the vanilla and egg and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Put the blue and white nonpareils in a medium bowl.
• Scoop the dough using a 3/4-ounce scoop (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) and roll the dough into a ball. Continue scooping and rolling until you've used up about half the dough. Roll each ball in the sprinkles and place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Chill the remaining dough while the first batch bakes.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies are puffed and lightly golden, about 12 minutes. Immediately press a chocolate gelt into the center of each cookie. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. When the baking sheet is cool, spray again with nonstick spray and repeat with the remaining dough, sprinkles and chocolate gelt.

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, ground hazelnuts, baking powder, and salt and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugars, and orange zest on medium high until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each, and then add the vanilla.
• Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until blended. At this point you can wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour, or up to two days, or you can get going on rolling out your dough and cutting out your cookies immediately.
• When ready to bake, set an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
• Working with half of the dough at a time, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness that's just under 1/2-inch-thick. Cut out 2 1/2-inch circles with a biscuit cutter and then transfer to a baking sheet, 1-inch apart. Re-roll scraps and cut out more shapes. Bake until they're lightly browned on the bottom; begin checking for doneness at 12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Spoon a teaspoon of chocolate onto the top of each cookie, and spread it around with a spoon into a little Gelt-sized circle. Top with sprinkles and let set in the fridge or at room temperature. Enjoy!
• To make the gelt, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a microwavable bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each. Melt until it's just smooth and then remove from heat.

Steps:

• Brush a 12-cup mini muffin tin with safflower oil. Using a microwave, melt dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl in 10-second increments, stirring in between. Divide melted chocolate evenly among prepared muffin cups. Top with cacao nibs, orange zest or candied ginger, as desired. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Using an offset spatula, remove the chocolates; blot any excess oil. Wrap in gold or silver candy papers (available at papermart.com). Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Steps:

• Roll the sugar cookie dough into about 16 balls. Sprinkle granulated sugar on a work surface and roll the balls in the sugar.
• Bake the cookies as directed. Transfer the pan to a rack. While the cookies are still warm, press a chocolate coin into each. Let cool completely.

Steps:

• Brush a 24-cup mini muffin pan or two 12-cup mini muffin tins (preferably nonstick) with oil.
• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until completely melted and smooth, about 90 seconds.
• Divide the melted chocolate evenly among the cups of the prepared muffin tin, about 1 3/4 teaspoons per muffin cup. (You can also use a pastry bag for this part.) Tap the muffin tin against the counter to remove any air bubbles and even out the chocolate.
• Top with gold sprinkles and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Use an offset spatula to remove the chocolate from the tin.