Thursday, October 7, 2010

Passionfruit Melting Moments


Wandering through our local farmer's market with my bags of treasured heirloom tomatoes, prized golden raspberries and crisp, freshly picked red leaf lettuce, an intense, tropical fragrance drew my attention.  Following the heady scent I was led a table where a little Asian lady sat knitting with just a few baskets of odd-looking purplish orbs in front of her.  One of these round fruits had been cut open revealing its bright orange and seed studded interior in addition to releasing the sweet tropical fragrance.  Without asking a single question she smiled, nodded her head and simply said, "Passionfruit."  Closing my eyes I was momentarily transported to the Kapiolani Market on the island of Oahu complete with fresh cut mangoes, fragrant tuberoses woven into leis, and the aromatic passionfruit completing my momentary fantasy.  Dragging myself back to reality I realized that I had no idea what I would do with one of these baskets of tropical goodness, but I had to have one!

My prized passionfruit basket by my side, I began an internet search for recipes. Among the Passionfruit Margaritas, smoothies, sorbets and tropical cosmos I discovered this delicate Australian recipe for Passionfruit Melting Moments.  Small, elegant shortbread-like discs are sandwiched together with the ethereal passionfruit filling providing a moment of tropical heaven.  Serving them to my mom and a girlfriend, the three of us sampled the little treats giving immediate groans of pleasure.  Liv also closed her eyes upon her first taste and a smile spread across her face as she reached for a second... and then a third.

Ripe passionfruit, slightly crinkled on the outside
Passionfruit - seeds, juices and membranes can all be used!
The perfect, light treat for a holiday dessert tray or a special tropical delight tied up in a pretty little box, these delectable passionfruit cookies will bring a moment of tranquility to your busy day.  



Passionfruit Melting Moments
by Syrie Wongkaew, Australian / New Zealand Food Guide

1 stick (125g) butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup (115g) all-purpose flour, sifted
1/4 cup (45g) powdered sugar, sifted (icing sugar)
1/3 cup (50g) cornstarch (cornflour)
1 tsp finely grated lemon rind
Strained liquid from 2 passionfruit

Filling
1/2 stick (60g) butter, softened
1 cup (150g) powdered sugar (pure icing sugar)
1 passionfruit
1 tsp lemon juice


Preheat oven to 325F (160C). Line baking tray with baking paper or silicone mat. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until pale and creamy. Add the passion fruit juice. Mix well.

Next, add sifted flour, icing sugar, cornstarch (cornflour) and lemon zest. Stir well with a wooden spoon until combined.

Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into balls.  Place on lined baking tray, about 1 inch apart.  Dust back of a fork with cornstarch and gently flatten.  Repeat process with remaining dough.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden and cooked through.  Set aside on the tray to cool for 3 minutes then transfer to wire rack to cool.

To make the filling, use an electric mixer to beat the butter until pale and creamy. Add the icing sugar, passionfruit pulp and lemon juice and beat until combined.

Spread a small amount of icing onto one side of a biscuit then sandwich with a second biscuit.  Repeat with remaining biscuits and filling.

Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Raitea, French Polynesia - 2010

22 comments:

  1. These are so beautiful, I've never had passion fruit... except for tea from the 'Bucks. They look so strange in the middle, but oh so pretty. I'll have to keep my eye out for one in my parts. These cookies are so beautiful! They look like passion fruit whoopie pies ;)

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  2. These look absolutely heavenly! Love the story- feels like I was there with you letting my senses determine my purchase. Must be awesome to have a wonderful Farmer's market. Missed ours today. Maybe will catch it Saturday. I haven't seen passion fruit at the markets since August. Girl I have 3 cookie recipes I will be baking now because of you- thanks! Make care packages that more awesome. (sorry for rambling!)

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  3. This recipe is for me! I love passion fruit and I really love the way you used them! Now I'm looking forward Saturday to come for my favorite farmer's market!

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  4. they are so adorable. I never had passion fruit, tho I see it at the store every time I do my shopping, I always though is one of those fruits/dishes that I don't like even tho I never tried. You (almost) convince me to try it.

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  5. Take me away! I could eat a dozen of these easy. They came out beautifully.

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  6. Passionfruit (or lilikoi as it is known as here in Hawaii) is one of my favorite fruits. I love Melting Moments but haven't had a home-made one in ages. Thanks for reminding me that I need to make them again soon.

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  7. I adore passionfruit, and these cookies do look like they would melt in your mouth! I bet the tropical flavor is addicting too. Lovely photos!

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  8. Passionfruit is one of my favorite fruits--it's so amazing and so amazingly hard to find at a normal price in the US. I'd kill to a get taste of these. Send some my way, please.


    BTW thanks for all the lovely comments you've been leaving lately! I've been a bad blog citizen & have been trying so hard to read all of the PFB entries that I've ignored some of my favorites, like you. Sorry!

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  9. They look so elegant and sophisticated, no wonder why you loved them so much.

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  10. wow, looks really fantastic! mouth watering...

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  11. yummy...now am thinking of holiday gift giving. I may have to add some red food color into the cookie dough. thanks for the post, i saved the recipe.

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  12. Those are perfectly gorgeous! I have no memory of ever tasting passionfruit....and living in Small Town, Arizona I am likely to stay that way. What an interesting looking fruit they are.

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  13. I've still never made a melting moments cookie or even used a fresh passion fruit. But these look absolutely delicious! I never used to like fruit cookies, but I think I may change my mind with something like this.

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  14. I can't believe you found passionfruit in carlsbad!! I need to check out that farmer's market. I haven't been to Hawaii, but i was in Thailand earlier this year and OD'ed on all the fruits. Passionfruit was my absolute favorite, and even there at the well stocked hotel breakfast it was in limited supply. Your use of it here is excellent and so creative. I wish I could eat one of those!! Maybe I can try for the market next week and whip up a batch. Such an awesome treat, thanks for the recipe!!

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  15. I'm so jealous, I want some fresh passion fruit so I can make these. I love the sunset photo, it has me yearning for a real vacation! I'm going to be on the hunt now for passion fruit!
    -Gina-

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  16. These sound fantastic!
    Thanks for this lovely recipe!

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  17. Ohhhh I lve passionfruit. I wish it was available here. I love the cookie idea.

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  18. My Mom used to make melting moments when I was a kid, but never anything like this...these look wonderful!

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  19. What tropical treasures! I must confess that I've never tried passionfruit before (although I've had the juice in smoothies). Not only do I want to find the fruit, but I also want to make these delightful little gems. They would be perfect at a party.

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  20. i love passion fruit. we had a tree before and we always had juice for breakfast. now here's another way to enjoy it! thanks for the recipe

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  21. My daughter and I just spent two amazing weeks with friend who lives on the Big Island. I had lilikoi jelly our first morning there and fell in LOVE with this fruit. Every where we went I ordered it in some form or fashion. It got to the point where my daughter told me I was going to return home as a lilikoi. I will be baking these asap! It will bring back memories from a very special trip with my daughter and our friends.

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  22. I made these cookies yesterday and they were awesome! They didn't come out nearly as pretty as yours did, though. I have lilikoi growing in my backyard and was looking for something yummy to make with them. Thank you!

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