I found these vintage marbles at an estate sale:
The big one is a “shooter.” I can see why marbles, with their bright colors and swirling patterns, are popular to collect.
I think we’re all pretty much losing our marbles these days thanks to the isolation, fear, and uncertainty related to the coronavirus. But I’m not letting it get in the way of celebrating the 4th of July. Inspired by the marbles, I made Marble Cookies (also known as Chinese Marble Cookies, although I don’t know why). They’re not difficult to make, and they will definitely brighten up your holiday.
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling on cookies
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cream of tartar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
- 2 cups flour
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Place the butter, sugar, and egg in a large bowl, and using an electric mixer, beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the salt, baking soda, cream of tartar, and almond extract. Stir in flour, mixing until thoroughly combined.
- Divide the dough into 3 portions. Color 1 portion blue, 1 portion red, and leave the third portion plain. (You can vary the number of colors as desired.) Be sure to mix the food coloring in thoroughly, and use enough to get a deep color.
- Roll each portion of dough between two sheets of parchment paper or wax paper. Remove paper and stack the portions together. (To do this, remove one sheet of paper from each portion. Stack one color on top of another, dough side down, peel off paper from top color, and repeat with third color. Leave paper on top and lightly roll the stack to ensure that the colors adhere to each other, then remove top paper.)
- Using the paper on the bottom as an aid, start from one side of the stack and roll the dough inwards to make a log. Slice the log into ¼" slices, and using your hands, lightly roll each slice into a ball. Place on a cookie sheet. Place about a ½ cup of sugar in a small bowl, and dip the bottom of a drinking glass in the sugar, then lightly flatten the cookies with the glass. Sprinkle cookies lightly with sugar.
- Bake for 8 minutes. Do not let the cookies brown. Allow to cool briefly on cookie sheet then transfer to rack to cool completely.
- Roll out each
Rolled and ready to be stacked
Little marbles of cookie dough
Flattened, sugared, and ready for the oven
They’ll stay bright if you don’t let them brown
Marble cookies — don’t take them for granite!
If you’re looking for inspiration for other patriotic treats, here are others featured on Tag Sale Tastes over the past 8 years:
