Using the Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer for Lynn’s Italian Sesame Seed Christmas Cookies
You’ve never seen anything like a Christmas cookie tray until you visit a traditional Italian home around the holidays.
Well, it’s true for me anyway among the Italian friends I’ve had in Philadelphia over the years.
Think of the most giant-sized round tray you can imagine, piled high, really, really, high with quite possibly around a dozen different varieties of cookies.
When my friend Frani’s mom was still alive they used to prepare maybe even five or so of these trays packaging them around with clear cellophane wrapping, tightly tied with colorful ribbon, and readied for deliveries to the other Italian family members.
After all, how could one provide proper hospitality over the holiday season without offering guests at least a hundred cookies upon their arrival?
The memories of these trays were so striking in my memory that the first time I observed this festive collection of homemade treats I think my eyes were nearly popping out, not to mention thinking that had been a whole heck of a lot of mixing action going on.
Lynn Melograna’s cookie trays much resembled those served at Frani’s over the holiday but on Lynn’s tray was one particular unique flavor that became an immediate favorite, that of the Italian Sesame Seed Christmas Cookies.
And so on a couple of special holiday occasions, following the antipasti platter, the giant ravioli tossed with tomato gravy accompanying equally huge meatballs, well, I still could hardly wait for the giant-sized cookie tray to appear, where despite already being stuffed, I would gleefully pop a few bites, well, maybe more than a few, just for the sheer delicious pleasure.
Eventually, the distance between our home locations became much further and so Lynn then shared a printed white file card of her Italian Sesame Seed Christmas Cookies recipe with me. One year the recipe mysteriously disappeared. I searched and searched to no avail. One weekend after pulling the oven from the wall for cleaning there sat a peek of a white corner. Further inspection revealed a white file card, slightly smudged but still intact. The recipe card had fallen behind the oven. Hooray! With Lynn’s Sesame Seed Christmas Cookie recipe recovered it continued on as the one cookie, along with the traditional Christmas sugar cookie that I annually most treasure preparing.
It is also the cookie that immediately came to mind with the opportunity to test out the Hamilton Beach 300 Watt Stand Mixer whose function provides the same mixing action as Kitchen Aid Stand Mixers.
A lot lighter in weight than I expected, the beater easily blended the full one pound of softened butter required for Lynn’s Italian Sesame Seed Cookies. Besides the smooth and even mixing performance, what I especially enjoyed about the Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer was the ease of use.
A snazzy silver push button quickly lifts the mixer head top up and down.
The speed control button adjusts by merely twisting your desired speed number from 1-7. As I said sturdy and easy.
The attachments, shown above, are also similar to a Kitchen Aid mixer, though lighter in weight and very easy to click into the attachment shaft.
A splatter shield is also included. The 4-quart bowl sets right into the central area and hugs snugly in place with an easy, no-fuss twist.
I really like the Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer and think it would make a great gift if you still have that special someone to buy for that loves to cook and bake ( I know there are plenty of last-minute shoppers out there like me!).
But then, the Stand Mixer would also make a great purchase any time of the year if you are looking for a fun-to-use- no fuss – sleek-looking appliance, or, maybe just for whipping up a batch of Lynn’s Italian Sesame Seed Cookies.
I received the Hamilton Beach 300-watt Stand Mixer to try out and share my honest opinion about the appliance. All opinions expressed within my posting content are sincere, and in providing my own experience, based on the performance of the appliance and its features.
Lynn's Italian Sesame Seed Christmas Cookies
Notes
Lynn Melograna's Sesame Seed Cookies
Lynn's Sesame Seed Cookies freeze well.
Ingredients
- 1 pound butter
- 1 1/3 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 eggs
- 5 cups sifted flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 or more cups sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Stir together the sifted flour with the baking powder. In the bowl of a Hamilton Beach Speed mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until somewhat fluffy around 2-3 minutes. Add in the sugar in 3 batches incorporating the before each addition, continuing to cream the mixture together, another 2-3 minutes or longer. Beat in the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time. Continue beating until well blended then add the sifted flour and baking powder in 3 parts blending well before each addition
- Turn off mixer, remove dough, separate into 3 portions roll each batch into 2 inch ropes around a quarter inch thick. Cut dough into one inch pieces then roll into the sesame seeds then place onto lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes
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