These hedgehog cookies are almost too cute to eat. However, they’re made from a yummy shortbread recipe, so they’re too tasty not to!
Earlier this month, the Food Bloggers of Los Angeles held their annual cookie swap, which I missed due to preparing to take a last minute trip to Germany.
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I saw photos of all the bloggers’ wonderful cookies, but the baby hedgehog cookies I spotted which were made by my friend, Cathy, who writes at She Paused 4 Thought, were the cutest edible things I think I’ve ever seen! As soon as I saw them, I knew I wanted to make them, and I finally got a chance yesterday.
Another delicious recipe: Back to School Cookies
Hedgehog Cookies
I used Cathy’s recipe, but omitted the spices to make a regular sugar cookie, and although I’m terrible at shaping or molding things, I think my baby hedgehog cookies turned out pretty well. I didn’t have toffee bits, so I used slivered and chopped almonds (the chopped are similar to the toffee bits, and easier to use) to create two different looks, as you can see from the photos.
When I was in Germany at the Christmas markets, I was looking for a gift for my daughter’s friend who loves animals. I came across this adorable hedgehog and knew it would be perfect for her. I just had to add it to my cookie shots–isn’t it sweet?
I encourage you to visit Cathy’s website, She Paused 4 Thought. Honestly, you will just love her recipes and photography as she is a top-notch cook, photographer and is talented in so many other ways! She’s also a fabulous friend. 💜
Hedgehog Cookies
Slightly adapted from Cathy Arkle (She Paused 4 Thought) makes about 18 hedgehogs
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- butter
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- semi-sweet chocolate
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Directions for the Hedgehog Cookie Dough
In a smaller bowl, sift the flour and salt. Set aside.
Put the dough out onto a floured counter and bring it together into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Shape pieces of dough into a hedgehog shape and place on a silicone sheet lined tray.
Directions for Decorating the Hedgehogs.
Allow to set completely before serving or placing in a tin to store. These freeze perfectly.
Some other tasty cookie recipes for autumn, besides classic Scottish shortbread ~
Hedgehog Cookies...Almost Too Cute to Eat!
Adorable shortbread cookies shaped like hedgehogs.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces chocolate chopped
Instructions
Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl of a stand mixer, mix together the butter and granulated sugar until they are just coming together, then add the vanilla. In a smaller bowl, sift the flour and salt, then add to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.
- Shape pieces of dough into a hedgehog shape and place on a silicone sheet lined tray.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the hedgehogs are just starting to brown. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.
Put the dough out onto a floured counter and bring it together into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Chocolate Directions:
- Melt the chocolate gradually in the microwave (use the defrost function)
- Coat the back of the cooled cookies and add almond slivers as seen in the photos.
- Make two eyes, and a nose with the chocolate.
Notes
Keep in a tin afterwards for best results.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 247Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 41mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 4g
Nutrition information is only estimated.
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They are indeed very adorable, and I may just feel an ounce of guilt biting their heads off!
Sort of a parallel to feeling rather disgusted when I eat witches’ fingers (biscuits)! Too funny! :)
Omgggg these are the cutest little cookies! I love your substitution for the toffee bits. The chopped almonds work perfectly! And they’re a little healthier.
Yes, I try to use as few processed ingredients as possible, Sharon. Thanks!
These are so stinking cute!! No way I could eat them, though, I can’t even eat chocolate Easter bunnies, ha!
There’s something called systematic desensitization that should help you with that eating “disorder”, Melissa! hahaha! ;)
Oh my! They are just adorable! My niece would love to make something like this. I think I am going to make them with her over Christmas :)
That’s a great idea, Dannii! Have fun!
Trying to get recipe for the hedge hog cookies won’t open any suggestions
I’m so sorry, Theresa! I just saw what the problem was and fixed it. I’m also linking it here for you:
http://www.cathyarkle.com/shepaused4thought/baby-hedgehog-cookies/
Your hedgehogs are adorable. I think they look just like the real thing. Using almonds was a great idea. They look perfect to ,e and I know they are totally delicious.
Thank you, Suzanne! :)
Thanks Christina, you have made my hedgehogs very proud. I love the use of almonds, they look FANTASTIC. I made them for my Christmas eve party and took them to a boxing day party and they were a hit!
Thank you, Cathy! Your “stamp of approval” means a lot to me! You’ve been a busy hedgehog cookie making lady! I can see why they’re always a hit! Thanks for posting the recipe!! :)
Could hedgehogs be any cuter!? I think not. I was lucky enough to bring one of Cathy’s cute hedgehog cookies home to my youngest son. While he though it was the best looking cookie he’d ever seen, he didn’t have a problem immediately eating it. Go figure. ;-) Turns out they’re delicious, too!
I would have loved to have made these for my kids when they were much younger, as I could imagine there would have been some time spent playing with them before eating them! :)