I'm sure that I am not the only one who frequently falls down the internet rabbit hole of cookies, cakes, tarts, candy, pretty much any and all things edible. More often than not I stare at the photos and imagine having endless free days to bake recipe after recipe. Then the reality of work, a toddler, and Better Call Saul comes into focus.
But once in a while, I do bake those recipes...and once in a while, they turn out even better than I could have ever expected.
This is where Momofuko's bakery, Milk Bar comes into play. I have been a bit obsessed with her cookies and cakes lately. The flavor combinations are really fun and the cakes are beautiful in a stripped down sort of way. So when my husband showed up at our place with a canister of her cookies, I decided to first eat all of the cookies and then replicate a few of them.
This is one. This is one of the best ones. This is one where most people will be apprehensive to take a bite but then can't stop once you have convinced them to do so. Yes, like most of her recipes, this one takes a bit a shopping to find all of the ingredients but I encourage you to take the extra time because it is worth it in the end.
Without further ado: the perfectly sweet and savory corn cookie.
Corn Cookie
from Momofuko Milk Bar
16 tbsp (225 grams) unsalted butter, at room temp.
1 1/2 cups (300 grams) sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups packed (225 grams) bread flour
1/4 cup packed corn flour (45 grams; see note below)
About 2 oz. (65 grams) freeze-dried corn, ground to a powder (2/3 cup packed; see note below)
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
Note: You can find Bob's Red Mill corn flour at Whole Foods and Amazon. While you can purchase corn powder from Milk Bar stores (milkbarstore.com), you can also grind your own from freeze-dried corn (look for the Just Tomatoes brand at some natural food stores or online at justtomatoes.com or Amazon).
Make the cookies: Line two large baking sheets with silpat or parchment paper.
Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a mixer and beat on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg and beat for 8 minutes or until very light and fluffy.
On low speed, add the flour, corn flour, corn powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt; beat just until the dough comes together, ~1 minute.
Use a size 20 scoop and portion out the dough on a baking sheet. Sightly flatten the dough and wrap the sheet tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 1 week).
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the chilled dough on a baking sheet ensuring at least 3 inches between each cookie. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned on the edges yet still bright yellow in the center.