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Torticas de Morón: Cuban Lime Shortbread & Secret Science! 🇨🇺💚

This week on Cookie Lab, we're taking a sunny trip to the Caribbean as Chris whips up a batch of Torticas de Morón! These classic Cuban shortbread cookies are delicate, buttery, and bursting with fresh lime flavor—the perfect bite of sunshine.

Join us as we explore the charming history of this celebrated cookie, tracing its origins in Cuba and how it became a beloved national treat. Of course, the moment of truth is next: the taste test! We’ll see if Chris successfully captured that signature melt-in-your-mouth texture and zingy citrus kick.

Then, prepare for a fascinating science lesson that will make your head spin (in a good way): The secret life of Limes! We drop the biggest science bomb of the week by discussing apomixis—how certain limes can actually reproduce without fertilization. It's botany that sounds like pure science fiction!

Tune in for the history, the taste, and the mind-blowing science of the world's most mysterious citrus fruit!

Recipe Link: https://tinyurl.com/cubanlime

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The Arnold Palmer Cookie: A Tee-Time Treat! 🍋☕

This week on Cookie Lab, we’re swinging for the greens with a refreshing twist on a classic pairing: the Arnold Palmer Cookie! Inspired by the legendary "half-and-half" beverage, Jill is in the lab crafting a cookie that perfectly balances the zing of lemon with the earthy depth of black tea.

Join us as we dive into:

• The Legend of the Drink: We explore the history of the Arnold Palmer, from the golf courses of the 1960s to its status as a global refreshment icon. How did a simple request for "a mixture of lemonade and iced tea" become a namesake sensation?
• The Cookie Blueprint: Jill breaks down her inspired recipe, explaining how she infused the dough with those signature citrus and tea notes to create a cookie that tastes exactly like a summer afternoon.
• The Science of the Steep: We get technical with the science of tea! We discuss tannins, polyphenols, and how the temperature and timing of your tea infusion can drastically change the flavor profile and structural integrity of your bake.

Will Jill's creation be a hole-in-one, or will it get stuck in the sand trap? Tune in for the history, the taste test, and all the "tea" on this unique bake!

Recipe Link: https://tinyurl.com/Arnoldcookie

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The Busken Iced Tea Challenge: Cincinnati’s Finest! 🍋🍪

This week on Cookie Lab, we’re heading to the Queen City to tackle a regional legend: the Busken Bakery Iced Tea Cookie! Known for its unique citrusy snap and iconic icing, this cookie is a Cincinnati staple, and we’re determined to crack the code.

The stakes are high this week as Chris brings an actual original Busken cookie all the way to the lab! We hold a high-pressure "Cookie Off" as Jill performs a side-by-side taste test, comparing the bakery's original to Chris’s meticulously crafted copycat recipe. Will the student surpass the master, or is there a secret ingredient we haven't found yet?

We also dive into:

• A Sweet History: We trace the origins of the Busken Bakery, a family-owned institution that has been keeping Cincinnati sweet since 1928.
• The Science of the Shine: Ever wonder how that icing stays so perfectly glossy and soft without getting brittle? We break down the science of corn syrup! Learn how it acts as an interfering agent to prevent sugar crystallization, ensuring that signature smooth finish every single time.

Tune in to see if Chris’s copycat can stand up to the real deal, and learn how to bring a taste of Ohio into your own kitchen!

Recipe Link: https://tinyurl.com/buskencopycat

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The NYC Legend: Culture Espresso Copycat Cookies! 🍪☕

This week on Cookie Lab, we are tackling a legendary recipe from one of the most iconic coffee shops in New York City: Culture Espresso! Known for having one of the best chocolate chip cookies in the world, we’re putting Jill’s copycat version to the ultimate test.

Join us as Jill tells the story of her trek through the busy streets of Manhattan to find this award-winning shop and the moment she realized she had to recreate that magic in her own kitchen. We’ll be doing a live taste test of her homemade version to see if it captures that perfect balance of a crispy exterior and a gooey, chocolate-heavy center.

But the secret to this cookie isn't just the chocolate—it's the finish! We’re diving into the Science of Maldon Salt. We’ll explain:

• The Geometry of Flavor: Why the unique pyramid shape of these sea salt flakes creates a "crunch" and a flavor profile that regular table salt can't touch.
• The Clean Finish: How the mineral content of Maldon salt enhances the sweetness of the chocolate without leaving a bitter aftertaste.

Whether you're a New Yorker or just a cookie enthusiast, you won't want to miss this deep dive into a coffee shop classic!

Recipe Link: https://tinyurl.com/culutre-copycat

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Third Time's the Charm! The Ultimate GF Sugar Cookie 🍪✨

Is it possible? Have we finally found the "Holy Grail" of gluten-free baking? This week on Cookie Lab, we are tackling our third attempt at the classic Gluten-Free Sugar Cookie, and the results are... well, you'll have to hear the crunch for yourself!

The game-changer this time? We swapped our old flour blends for our new favorite: Mightylicious Flour. Join us as we rave about the texture, the taste, and why this flour finally ended our streak of gritty disappointments. Spoiler alert: We might be in love.

But we aren't just eating cookies; we're learning about them!

• The Sweet History: Trace the journey of the sugar cookie from its 17th-century roots in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, to the holiday staple it is today.
• The Science of Snap: We break down the chemistry of a sugar cookie—specifically how the ratio of sugar to moisture creates that signature "snap" versus a soft "pillowy" bite.

If you’ve been struggling with gluten-free baking, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for!

Recipe Link: https://tinyurl.com/cookie-labrecipe

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Bakewell Bonanza! From Mistake to Masterpiece! 🍒🥧

Grab your tea and settle in! This week on Cookie Lab, we're taking a deliciously sweet trip to England to tackle the classic Bakewell Tart (or Bakewell, as it's affectionately known).

The story of this iconic dessert is almost as sweet as the treat itself: we'll share the hilarious history that began as a simple culinary mistake at an English Inn—a mistake that thankfully resulted in one of the UK's most beloved bakes! We bring this historical treat into the Cookie Laboratory for our signature bake and taste test.

And for the science! We dive deep into the role of eggs in emulsion, the critical chemical process that gives the Bakewell's gorgeous frangipane filling that perfect, rich, and stable texture. Learn how this delicate balance of fats and liquids makes the difference between a good bake and a truly delicious one!

Tune in for the history, the taste, and the science of this accidental English masterpiece!

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Chocolate Tiffin: The British No-Bake Delight! 🇬🇧🍫

This week on Cookie Lab, we're taking another delicious trip across the pond to make the legendary British tray bake treat: the Chocolate Tiffin! This no-bake wonder is packed with chocolate, biscuit pieces, and delicious mix-ins, making it the perfect quick fix for any sweet craving.

Join us as we discuss the charming history of the Tiffin, how it became a teatime staple, and what makes it different from other tray bakes. Of course, we perform the essential taste test to see if this dense, rich, and ridiculously easy dessert lives up to its hype.

We also dive into the fascinating science of dried cherries! We explore the process of dehydration, what happens to the fruit's sugars and acids, and why they maintain that perfect chewiness and burst of flavor when incorporated into a rich chocolate base.

Grab a cuppa and tune in for all the history, taste, and science behind this delightful English treat!

Recipe Link: https://scottishscran.com/chocolate-tiffin-recipe/

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The Haunted Hobnob: Prue Leith's Spooky Treat! 👻🍪

Happy Halloween, bakers! This week, Chris is in the lab putting a seasonal, brown-and-orange spin on The Great British Bake Off icon: Prue Leith's Chocolate Caramel Hobnobs! Forget your flimsy wafer cookies; these are crunchy, caramel-filled masterpieces perfect for your adult trick-or-treating party (or just hiding in the pantry).

We’re not just baking, we’re learning!

• Biscuit Breakdown: We explore the surprisingly long and crunchy history of the Hobnob, the simple biscuit that conquered the UK and became a dunking legend.
• The Horror of Seizing: We confront a true baking nightmare: seizing white chocolate! We dive into the specific science of why even a single drop of water can ruin your melted chocolate and give you tips on how to handle cocoa butter like a professional ghostbuster.

Tune in to discover if Chris's seasonal color swap is a delicious disaster or a perfectly engineered treat!

Cookie Lab Master Gluten-Free Cookie Dough

- 226g unsalted butter, softened

- 200g granulated sugar

- 220g light brown sugar, packed

- 2 large eggs (room temp)

- 2 tsp vanilla extract

- 420g gluten-free flour blend

- 1 tsp cornstarch

- 1/2 tsp baking soda

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 1 tsp salt

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Join our FB Group for free access to the Cookie Recipe!
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