Lengua de Gato (Butter Cookies)

Oh you know, I'm still on that Filipino dessert phase. Next up is Lengua de Gato! *Cue the streamers* Remember how I had my graduation/23rd birthday party weeks ago? Well, it's not a filipino party unless there's Leche Flan. Thus, after buckets of eggs yolks, you can only imagine the amount of egg whites there was. So, what the heck did I make out of those egg whites? These cookies. Move over angel food cake, ain't nobody got time for that.

These cookies are childhood to me. Not in the sense my family would be pumping these out the oven but in the sense that whenever my grandparents would go back to the homeland, they would always bring these cookies in a clear, cylindrical container with a screw top. These cookies would be perfectly displayed within and I would just eat them endlessly.

They are flat, crunchy and sweet cookies with a hint of vanilla. These become addicting so be careful. One becomes two, which becomes three, and well, you get the idea.

Look, look, look! Don't you just want to grab it and eat like a bajillion?? I know I do!

Lengua de Gato

Recipe by Panlasang Pinoy

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup superfine white sugar Whites from 2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cream the butter using an electric mixer then gradually add the sugar. Continue mixing for another 2 minutes. Stir-in the egg whites gradually and mix for about 3 to 4 minutes more. Add salt and vanilla extract. Gradually stir-in the flour. Continue to mix for about 2 to 3 minutes more or until the mixture is well incorporated.

Get a piping bag and install a round tip. Place the mixture in the piping bag. On a baking tray lined with wax or parchment paper, begin piping the mixture. Each piece should be about 2.5 to 3 inches in length. Bake for 9 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and place in a cookie rack until the temperature cools down.

-Aaron John