GialloZafferano's Recipe of the Day: Desert Rose Cookies

Have you ever made cookies with corn flakes? Today's recipe is desert rose cookies, homemade treats that take their name from the distinctive mineral formations of the desert, which they resemble thanks to their irregular shape. The corn flakes create a crunchy coating, while inside there is a crumbly almond dough scented with vanilla. Perfect with a cup of tea or coffee, they are also an original idea for using cereal in the kitchen!

INGREDIENTS FOR ABOUT 22 COOKIES:

• Type 00 flour 1 cup (125 g)
• Almond flour 1 ¼ cup (125 g)
• Corn flakes 3.5 oz (100 g)
• Eggs medium 2
• Butter at room temperature ½ cup (180 g)
• Baking powder 1 ¾ tsp (8 g)
• Fine salt 1 pinch
• Sugar ¾ cup (150 g)
• Vanilla extract to taste

FOR SPRINKLING:

• Corn flakes to taste
• Powdered sugar

1. To prepare the desert rose cookies, place the softened butter, sugar, a pinch of salt, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Work the ingredients with a spatula until you get a creamy mixture.
2. Add one egg at a time, making sure the first is completely absorbed before incorporating the second.
3. Add the sifted 00 flour and mix, then add the sifted baking powder, almond flour, and crumbled corn flakes. Combine all the ingredients well until you get a smooth dough.
4. Take spoonfuls of dough and roll them in the whole corn flakes, turning them to coat completely. Gently compact them with your hands to shape the cookies.
5. Transfer the balls to a tray and let them rest in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.
6. Arrange the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated conventional oven at 356°F (180°C) for about 15 minutes.
7. Once removed from the oven, the cookies will still seem slightly soft, but they will reach the right consistency as they cool. Let them cool completely, then dust them with powdered sugar to taste.

To get desert rose cookies with a well-defined shape, don't skip the rest in the refrigerator before baking: it helps the dough firm up and hold its shape better in the oven. Also, avoid baking them too long if the cookies still seem soft: they will become firmer as they cool.