Gator Bait

Today's post is a tribute to my good friend Ben's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!). Because I'm a sucker and because Ben is awesome, I decided to hold my nose and bake a birthday tribute to Ben's beloved Florida gators. Oh the things we do for love (at least he didn't go to OSU)...

I love when my friends have birthdays because it's a great excuse for me to whip out a new cake recipe I've been dying to try and avoid getting the guilt trip from my friends and family that I'm trying to fatten them up (I swear I'm not). While I had dreams of a delicious orange layer cake with orange butter-cream adorned with fresh blueberries, I remembered the all to real realities of schlepping a cake to a bar and then trying to figure out plates and knives etc. while getting yelled at by managers peeved at our party. Anyone who attended my last birthday party knows that I have mastered the art of schlepping  copious numbers of cupcakes to the bar (the secret is to walk over to the nearest pizza joint and sweet-talk them into giving you a clean extra large pizza box) but since my dad is out-of-town for the week I was left driver-less.  

So what to do about a Metro commute friendly birthday treat? Cake balls? Just did that and I need to claim my creative bona fides (note to self I need to blog on that). The first thing Ben goes for when he comes over is a glass of OJ so I knew I was on the right track with oranges. Loyal reader, former Washingtonian, and bff Rachel had a fabulous idea, cookie sandwiches.* I assembled a few as sandwiches before I realized they taste just as fabulous "open-faced", aka cookies with frosting on them.  I call my creation Gator Bait.


Gator Bait
Adapted from White Chip Orange Cookies recipe by NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE

Cookie Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• zest of one orange
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Premier White Morsels
• Red and yellow food coloring (only if you're planning a Gator tailgate) 

Preheat oven to 350° F (unless you are preparing dough in advance).

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. If you're aiming for extra orange cookies add a couple of drops of red and yellow food coloring until the mixture is slightly more orange than you'd like the cookies to look. 

Beat in egg, orange zest and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets OR Silpats.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown, since I was making cookie sandwiches I wanted the tops to be slightly flatter so I used a spatula to press them down a little. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely before frosting. 

Frosting Ingredients 

• 1 cup fresh blueberries washed and well dried
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (reserve for decoration)
• Blue food coloring (optional for decoration of sugar)

Simmer blueberries in small saucepan that comfortably fits blueberries. Watch closely to make sure they don't boil and burn. Stir berries frequently and make sure none are sticking to sides of pan. Remove saucepan from heat when just about all the blueberries have popped. Pour berries into a heatproof bowl and refrigerate until cool (at least 30 minutes).

Cream butter and sugar together in a medium size bowl using a hand or standing mixer. Add vanilla and blueberries and mix until well combined and frosting looks spreadable. 

If you're not ready to assemble your cookies cover frosting with plastic wrap and refrigerate. 

Since I realize that blueberries once cooked turn purple and that blue isn't actually a naturally occurring color, I put a few drops of blue food coloring into a small plastic tupperware and poured in 1/2 cup of sugar. Make sure top is fitted tightly on sugar container and shake well to make homemade blue sprinkles.

To make things more fun, I thought I'd bring the cookies, frosting and  blue sugar to the bar so that our friends could assemble their own cookies. This might have been one of the best ideas I've ever had. Turns out even "adults" at dive bars on the Hill like decorating cookies! These cookies were a hit, they reminded me of Creamsicle which of course is the highest compliment coming from me. Will be making again. 

*Note to readers: Rachel asks that you not tell her lovely UGA alum of a boyfriend that she aided and abetted in a Gator-themed confection.