On Vintage Friday today we continue our harvest talk about how important it is to take time to celebrate our accomplishments. Along the same idea of self pampering and showing gratitude to others, the “it” cookie of 1955 was the iconic bonbon.
Bonbon cookies are frilly, uptown, and resemble candy. When you think of bonbons, who do you see nibbling them? Elizabeth Taylor? Marilyn Monroe? Audrey Hepburn? Man Men wives? These cookies have the same style.
INGREDIENTS: ½ cup butter, ¾ cup sifted confectioners’ sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla, food coloring, 1 ½ cups plain flour, 1/8 teaspoon salt.
Fillings—maraschino cherries, dates, nuts, chocolate chips.
Toppings—chopped nuts, colored sugar, coconut.
DIRECTIONS: Mix butter, sugar, vanilla, and food coloring. Dip flour or sift it, add salt, and then add to butter mixture. Mix by hand or cut it in with a case knife. If dough seems too dry, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of cream.
For chocolate bonbons, add 1 square of melted, unsweetened chocolate.
Wrap 1 tablespoon dough around one of the suggested fillings. Bake on ungreased baking sheet in preheated 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes, until set but not brown. Cool. Dip tops of cookies in colored icing. Decorate each cookie with one of the suggested toppings.
ICING: Mix 1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar, 2 ½ tablespoons cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and drops of food coloring as desired. To make chocolate icing, you can add 1 square of unsweetened chocolate to the sugar and vanilla, but also use 3 tablespoons of cream.
I’m pretty sure you can only bake these 1955 vintage bonbon cookies while wearing a negligee and kitten heels:)
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
I love the “required” attire for baking bonbons. All the ladies you mentioned had the same iconic style as your classic cookie. Great choices!
Yes, and we would not even break a sweat as we go about the cookie making:)
I can’t wait to try this recipe, because I can see me and me and me doing more than nibbling ;p
I know– I want one with each of the fillings and toppings.
Just reading the recipe made my mouth water!
Regarding your question – Audrey Hepburn, for sure. I can imagine her doing it.
Audrey was a classy lady, wasn’t she? I didn’t know until recently that William Holden was such a great love of hers.
I love these cookies I need to make some funny on the attire
We should have a cookie / tea party and come in costume.