-
1
Preparation Time: 1 1/4 hrs
-
2
Cooking Time: 10 to 12 min
-
3
1.
-
4
Sift flour into a large mixing bowl and make an indentation or possibly well in the center of the flour.
-
5
Add in the sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, salt and lemon rind to the well.
-
6
Mix the ingredients in the well together with the flour.
-
7
Then cut in the butter using a pastry cutter or possibly two sharp knives.
-
8
At this point the dough will resemble coarse crumbs.
-
9
Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead it with your hands till smooth and hard.
-
10
Divide dough in half and shape into two balls.
-
11
2.
-
12
Wrap tightly in plastic.
-
13
Chill till hard sufficient to roll out, about 1 hour.
-
14
3.
-
15
Meanwhile, heat the apricot preserves over low heat, stirring constantly.
-
16
Stir in lemon juice and rum.
-
17
Let cold.
-
18
4.
-
19
Heat oven to 325 degrees.
-
20
Place the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface or possibly between two sheets of floured wax paper.
-
21
Roll out with a floured rolling pin to about 1/4-inch thickness.
-
22
Cut out circles of dough about 2 inches in diameter.
-
23
Place half of the circles onto greased or possibly non-stick cookie sheets.
-
24
Cut the other half of the circles again with a small shot glass or possibly cookie cutter to create a ring shape.
-
25
(Make an equal amount of rings to circles.)
-
26
Place the rings onto buttered baking sheets.
-
27
Bake till light gold, 10 to 12 min.
-
28
Cold a little on the cookie sheets.
-
29
5.
-
30
To assemble, brush the still-hot circles with the cooled apricot mix.
-
31
Place one ring on top of each circle and press gently (they break easily) to secure.
-
32
Spoon a small dollop of the apricot mix into the center of the cookies.
-
33
Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
-
34
Cold.
-
35
Store in a tightly closed tin.
-
36
Infused with bits of lemon and pure vanilla and filled with apricot preserves and rum, the buttery rounds brought second-place honors to their baker, German-born Anne Kroemer of Chicago.
-
37
Anne uses a wine glass and a smaller schnapps glass to cut out these cookies.
-
38
We've made them slightly smaller by using round cookie cutters; biscuit cutters work as well.
