Orange Polenta Cookies

Polenta is a versatile ingredient, I love using it in both savoury and sweet dishes. My first success in using it for sweet baking was when when I made this cake. At first I had been sceptical thinking it was just a novelty but the polenta does add a nice dimension to sweet baking. In cakes it absorbs moisture and creates a wonderful crumb and it gives cookies a wonderful short texture with a great crunch. It's definitely worth trying.

This recipe I'm sharing is a quick and easy way to try it for yourself. The cookies a reminiscent of shortbread, yet are more dense and textured. The added orange zest gives them a fresh tang and the polenta gives them a unique texture and taste. For such a simple recipe, the results are very impressive.

Orange Polenta Cookies

Ingredients:

125g butter, softened
2 teaspoons grated orange rind
110g (2/3 cup) icing sugar
55g (1/3) cup instant polenta, or extra fine polenta
150g (1 cup) plain flour

Method:

Beat together the butter, orange rind and icing sugar until smooth.
Mix in the polenta and flour.
Knead the mixture then roll it into a log; cut it into 1cm slices.
Place the slices on a greased or lined oven tray, place them 2cm apart.
Bake them for approx 15 minutes at 180 Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).
Makes approx 20-30