After the bakery construction project of the French Yule Log for December (which I loved!), the hostesses chose something light and rather simple for this month’s challenge. I admit, knowing both Karen and Zorra, I truly and honestly expected something that used yeast and had bread in the title. I was a bit taken aback by their selection for this month.
These ladies instructed us to choose from several recipes and I elected one that I thought would be a great basic recipe to test. They asked that these cookies be shaped in some way and paired with something light. Here is where things began to go wrong. I made the batter, baked the cookies, shaped the cookies and then…they wilted. Every time. The humidity here really did not allow them to keep their shape. I used two thirds of the batter trying to get the thickness and the spreading and heat all to work together. By that time, the cookies were flat and soggy. I was a bit flustered and threw the bowl of batter back into the fridge.
After at least a week, I took the batter out, sort of planning to throw the batter out and just start again. But, it looked okay and I thought I would give these another shot. That’s when the gas went out. See, I have a propane tank in my kitchen and when the gas is gone I have to call and have someone bring me more. Once I finally had a replacement tank, the oven was heated and I tried to make more.
The second time around, I was ready. I knew how thick to make them, how to roll them and how long they may last. So the rest of the batter made about 6 more cookies and I took pictures right away before they flattened again. Well, at least one didn’t flatten out.
I think this recipe is not suited well for high humidity and summer heat. At least in my kitchen. I think I was a little disappointed in the rolling and shaping and could not enjoy making anything to accompany these. (Sorry!) But, I loved the cookies and am eager to try another recipe and enjoy them once again. Because you know, they really are perfect with coffee.
Tuiles
Adapted from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink
Makes about 20 cookies
65 grams of softened butter
1/2 cup of sifted powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
2 large egg whites (slightly whisked with a fork)
1/2 cup of sifted flour
Butter/spray to grease baking sheet
1/4 cup of finely chopped pistachios
1. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla to a paste in a medium bowl. Continue to stir while you gradually add the egg whites. Add the flour by the tablespoon and stir to achieve a homogeneous and smooth batter/paste. Be careful to not over mix. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up. (This batter will keep in the fridge for up to a week; take it out 30 minutes before you plan to use it).
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or coat with cooking spray and chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. This will help spread the batter more easily if using a stencil/cardboard template such as the butterfly.
3. Preheat oven to 350F. Place the stencil on the baking sheet, spread a small amount of batter into a small oval and using the back of the spoon, spread the batter. Leave some room in between your shapes. Sprinkle with pistachios.
4. Bake for about 5-10 minutes at 350F or until the edges turn golden brown. Immediately release from baking sheet and Shape immediately after baking using a rolling pin. These cookies have to be shaped when still warm, you might want to bake a small amount at a time.
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Tuiles are being served up for the January Daring Bakers Challenge. This month’s challenge is brought to us by Karen of Baking Soda and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux. Please visit the Daring Bakers Blogroll to see what other wonderful Tuiles are being served up!
Take a peek at the other Daring Baker challenges I have completed!!
Gretchen, they look beautiful! Humidity is the main enemy for these cookies
Gretchen, I can understand your frustration, because I had been there my self. It always turn out disastrous every time I try to bake back in Bali. Your tuiles look really good Gretchen.
Cheers,
Elra
I love the chopped pistachios. My tuiles lost their crunch within a day.
Sorry to hear that your tuiles did not stay crunchy either. ~Gretchen
Sorry they wilted on you! Your tuiles look fantastic, though!
No worries – they were eaten quickly! ~Gretchen
That’s one thing I hadn’t thought of; humidity! (Maybe because we have another kind of humidity here, the solid kind…rainy Holland). Kudos for persevering! (Yes, I know, bread…sigh)
No worries, they were eaten quickly! Maybe in the winter? ~Gretchen
Those must have been delicious… probably just as delicious as they are beautiful! Very well done, Gretchen!
They were good and were eaten quickly! ~Gretchen
They are super !! Humidity must have been a great enemy !
Hopefully, next time I can try them when it is not so humid out! ~Gretchen
Gorgeous tuiles!! They turned out beautifully!
Thanks! ~Gretchen
Gorgeous tuiles! I also love the new design on your site – everything looks fantastic!
Thanks so much Dana! ~Gretchen
J’adore les pistaches ! tes tuiles sont très tentantes et vraiment très belles
Merci! ~Gretchen
Your tuiles are beautiful with the pistachios! I thought the humidity was a factor here too in Manila but after a few more tries, I got mine to work well. My problem was i think day old egg whites!
Glad they did work for you after all. ~Gretchen
Everything is always better with pistachios!
Very true, they do make things delicious! ~Gretchen
they look lovely! i flaked out this month, which is a shame, b/c the recipe was a simple one…
I am glad I tried it, but they did not turn out as I had hoped. Maybe I will do them again? ~Gretchen
your tuiles look just lovely!
Thanks! ~Gretchen
These look beautiful! I love the pistachios!
Thanks! ~Gretchen
I love your chopped pistachios on them. Sounds like it was a tricky recipe for Peru! Have fun in the jungle.
It was a bit tricky and I will have to try them again sometime. ~Gretchen
I am crazy for pistachios and this is a terrific way to incorporate them. Beautiful tuiles!
Thanks so much! I love them too! ~Gretchen
Oh no! They look great in the photos – damn the humidity!
The photo was a quick shot before they collapsed again! Oh well! ~Gretchen
You’d never know you had trouble from looking at your photos — your tuiles look so pretty!
Thanks so much! ~Gretchen
They still look fantastic if you ask me! The chopped pistachios are a nice touch.
Thanks very much! ~Gretchen
oh m glad i got to know about the humidity….coz i want to make these tuiles too…n will try it in winters only..
well they look delectable. my first time here and must say I love this place. if u can, do stop by my place sometime…wud love to entertain u 
Thanks so much for stopping by! ~Gretchen
Your tuiles are so pretty! I love the pistachios on them, lovely! They look flawless to me!!!
Thanks so much! ~Gretchen
oh my gosh, you sure had some trouble! they look wonderful.
Thanks! ~Gretchen
these look nice though. I had the same problem I think it was humidity that made my tuiles turn soft and chewy after a while.
The humidity was a huge enemy with these! ~Gretchen
Very pretty! They must be delightfully crunchy! Cheers, Rosa
I wish they had stayed crunchy longer, but they still tasted yummy! ~Gretchen
I can understand humidity would not be good for these delicate thin cookies. But they are good! I love the pistachios! I think I’d like to do a bowl with pistachios – what to put in it? Yes, I had a tough time with the filling. Every DB I read though is giving me new ideas.
My thinking cap just wasn’t on to make fillings after all these adventures in the kitchen, but I have seen some great ideas! ~Gretchen
I had a problem with humidity too, but yours ended looking better!!
Thanks, the photos had to be done immediately! ~Gretchen
So pretty! Yeah, I can see these being a magnet for sneaky water molecules.
Yes, but I do hope to try again! ~Gretchen
You did a great job – congrats for trying again, despite the odds.
Yes, and I do hope to try again sometime as well, without humidity! ~Gretchen
Oh, they look yummy! You take great photos!!
Thanks so much! ~Gretchen
Beautiful in spite of it all, Gretchen.
Thank you! ~Gretchen
They look incredible and not flat at all. Really beautiful work, Gretchen.
Thanks, I hope to try them again though soon! ~Gretchen
I can see how the humidity could really be a problem – kudos on persevering through it! The photos look wonderful.
Thanks! ~Gretchen
Perfectly done and well shaped!! Love ‘em!
Thanks! ~Gretchen
I love your blog! My husband and I hope to be missionaries in Africa one day and I look forward to learning to cook in our future hut and all the challenges I will face. It’s exciting. Great job on the tuiles, thanks for sharing your story.
Where in Africa? Cooking can be an adventure in other countries! ~Gretchen
I admire your determination. Success and Congratulations if only for a short time. I’m glad you enjoyed the finished cookie with coffee. Sounds pretty yummy and they look beautiful.
AmyRuth