Black And Whites Recipe
- 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup solid vegetable shortening, at room temperature
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
- 4 eggs, at room temperature
- 2¼ cups cake flour
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon lemon flavoring
- 1/8 teaspoon orange flavoring
- 1½ pounds confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- ¾ cup light corn syrup
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 recipe vanilla icing
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. Cut parchment paper to cover a large baking sheet. If making large cookies, trace four 4½-inch circles on each sheet of parchment. If making smaller cookies, trace four 3½-inch circles. Place oven rack in the center of the oven.
- In a large bowl, using a hand-held or stand mixer, cream together the sugar, shortening, and butter until light and fluffy.
- Reduce speed to medium and add the corn syrup, then the eggs, one at a time, beating after each until just incorporated.
- In another large bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, and salt.
- On medium speed, beat the dry ingredient mixture into the creamed mixture, alternating with milk, and beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Add vanilla, lemon, and orange flavorings.
- To make large cookies, place ½ cup batter in the center of each circle and spread evenly with the back of a spoon or rubber spatula to fill the outline. Bake one tray at a time for 10 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden.
- To make smaller cookies, spread ¾ cup batter in each circle. Bake one tray at a time, for 8 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden.
- To make the vanilla icing, combine the ingredients in the top of a double boiler over barely simmering water. Stir until well combined. The mixture will be thick. Cook to 100 degrees. If too thick, add a few drops of water. Remove from heat; keep icing over hot water.
- Turn cookies over and frost one half of the flat side with vanilla icing. You can use a piece of wax paper as a guide for an even line of icing. Using a pastry brush (or paintbrush) instead of a spatula or knife gives the smoothest surface. To keep icing glossy, don’t go over it too much. Place on a rack to dry.
- To make chocolate icing, add melted chocolate to vanilla icing. Apply the chocolate icing when the vanilla icing dries.