In the tmc recipe for special train track cookies, we have slightly modified the tried and tested basic recipe already in the shortcrust pastry. A splash of milk is added to the basic dough, which makes the whole base even softer. In addition, the basic dough can be given a special touch here with different spices; besides the Christmas classic cinnamon, our favorites are tonka bean and cardamom.
In this recipe, the spraying mixture for the “tracks” is refined with honey and thus also contributes to the special taste.
Ingredients:
Shortcrust pastry
200g butter
300g flour
100g powdered sugar
1 egg yolk
vanilla
lemon peel
15ml milk
spices: e.g. cinnamon, cardamom, tonka bean, cloves
Marzipan macaroon paste
200g marzipan
1 egg white
60g honey
30g sugar
Red jam (taste as desired)
For the shortcrust pastry, quickly knead all ingredients into a dough. To make it easier to incorporate the butter, it can be shaved into the dough with a grater when chilled.
The dough should now be chilled for about half an hour.
After chilling, roll out the dough into a thin rectangle and bake in a preheated oven at 170-180°C top/bottom heat for 10 minutes.
For the marzipan macaroon mixture, stir the ingredients until smooth. The mixture is piped onto the shortcrust pastry base in parallel lanes – each with a little space between every other lane, into which the jam will later be filled. This gives the train track look, which is also where the name “train track cookies” comes from. Now the creation is put back in the oven.
Now the work comes again in the oven, until the tracks are golden brown, about 8-10 minutes.
The finished and filled train track cookies go into the oven again.
Once everything has cooled, the tracks are separated lengthwise with a knife and then cut into small, even sections of track.
For the basic train track cookie recipe, click here. Our personal favorite and the slightly more advanced train track cookie variation can be found here.
By the way, with our train track cookies we recommend a tmc Café!