If I could be a cookie, I would be this cookie. American with Portuguese flavors. I took my favorite Rebecca Frith cookie recipe – her Big-Ass Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookie from The Cookie Book – on a Portuguese vacation.
Portugal is the land of olive oil; her cookie is already deeply imbued with this traditional ingredient. Next I added citrus and spice. Lemon and cinnamon are quintessential. You’ll find a whisper of anise which in this cookie doesn’t scream licorice but accentuates the flavor of the olive oil. Almonds and dried figs add crunch and chew and make up two of southern Portugal’s most loved ingredients. There’s a story that a Moorish prince planted fields of almond trees in the Algarve so that their spring blooms would remind his Nordic princess of snow, easing her homesickness. I also included a shot of Port wine because you can’t go to Portugal and not drink Port. The flavor will be subtle so if you’d rather drink it yourself, saude (cheers)!
Tag @PortugueseBaking with your photos! We’d love to see and share your creations!
