“Deceptive to the eye
In shape of an egg,
‘Please let me try one’
You earnestly beg,
Surprise in the mouth
Your head swirls in wonder,
If this a miracle
Or a deliberate blunder?
Tastes nothing at all
Like it’s form and shape,
And the spoon crumbles
Making you gape,
Sweet like holiday
A dessert quite neat,
Approved by the bunny
As an Easter eat!”
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Shortbread Spoons (makes about 8-10 spoons)
½ stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon vanilla essence
1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s)
A pinch of salt
For the Phirni (Ground Rice Pudding)
2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons white rice, soaked in ½ cup water for 3 hours
2 tablespoons +1 teaspoon brown sugar (or to taste)
1 tablespoon rose water
1 teaspoon fresh mango pulp + few pieces for garnish
Make the Edible Spoons
Beat the butter till its light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla and mix well. Now add all the dry ingredients and work till the dough begins to come together. Once done, cover with cling film and chill for approximately 30 minutes (can be more but not less).
Preheat oven to 375°F while dough chills.
Bring the dough to room temperature and knead for a few minutes till it soft and workable. Divide into 8-10 equal parts and roll out each part onto a 4 inch oval. If you have a spoon shape cookie cutter, cut out a spoon shape from this press into a spoon mould (use any oven-proof spoons you have at home- I used my ceramic appetizer spoons) If not, just press the dough into the mould and cut off the edges. Using your hands, give the dough the shape of the spoon, leaving the base slightly thicker that the stem (this will make the spoon heavier at the bottom, allowing it to balance better once baked)
Prick the moulds with a fork and bake the shortbreads in middle of oven until centers are dry to the touch and edges are slightly darker, about 15 minutes. Cool completely before removing them from the moulds. Chill slightly by refrigerating for 20 minutes.
Make the Rice Pudding (Phirni)
Grind the rice to a paste in a blender. Mix with the milk and bring to boil. Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring continuously till the rice is fully cooked and the pudding starts to slowly thicken. At this stage, add the sugar and rose water. Cook for another 5-6 minutes till the sugar is melted. Remove from heat and cool. Once cooled, add the mango pulp and mix well. Chill for 2 hours.
Put a teaspoon of the phirni on the Chocolate Shortbread spoons, garnish with a piece of mango and serve cold.
Remember to make the mango rice pudding in excess, because one you have tasted it on the spoons you will definitely need- not want- more. It is delicious!
