Puppas

One of the things my husband's family would make for Easter are Puppas - cookies wrapped and baked around hard-boiled eggs. It kind of looks like a pretzel. 

When we moved cross country, I looked for a similar recipe, but only found a papoose bread. It was good, but it wasn't the same. I finally broke down and asked my husband to ask his cousin for the recipe, and the younger kiddos and I made them this year. I'm posting the details here so when I lose the recipe, it will be safe and waiting on the internets. ;)

We halved the recipe, using 

5 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 T baking powder

1/2 t salt

1 1/2 cups sugar 

1 T vanilla (not halved)

6 eggs

Plus a hard-boiled egg for each Puppa

(We made 6)

Mix all ingredients (except hard boiled eggs) in stand mixer until a smooth dough consistency

Score dough in the bowl into quarters, divide 1/4 in half, and in half again 

Roll into a rough ball, then roll between hands into a sausage

On parchment lined cookie sheet, roll out into a thinner rope, between a quarter and a nickel in diameter

Set aside

Roll out remaining portions for each Puppa. Leftover dough can be baked into cookies

To shape Puppa, place dough rope where you will bake it, form into a horseshoe, lay the egg on the cookie sheet, touching the dough, wrap the dough around he egg and twist the bottom ends around each other to secure (we didn't and it was a weak point)

Repeat. (We baked 3 on each sheet)

Bake 8-11 mins until bottom edge is golden brown (and top of cookie firms)

Remove from oven, let cool a few minutes on sheet

With long spatula, carefully move to cooking racks (with paper towel underneath to catch drips of icing)

When cooled, mix 1 cup confectioner's sugar, 1t lemon juice, and 1T milk together. Drizzle over cookie. Sprinkle with candy confetti or colored sugar. 

Note: The eggs can be a bit hard to peel due to the extra baking in the oven.