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Hedgehog Cookies…Almost Too Cute to Eat!

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!

baby hedgehog cookies biscuits

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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text box with paraphrase: I made them for my Christmas party and took them to a boxing day party and they were a hit!-Cathy

Baby Hedgehog cookie recipe

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

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.

Hedgehog cookies alongside a wooden one from Germany

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?

Wooden Hedghog from Germany

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. 💜

baby hedgehog cookies

 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.

butter and sugar

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.
 
adding flour to bowl
 
Add the sifted dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.

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.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the hedgehogs are just starting to brown. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.

Directions for Decorating the Hedgehogs.

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.
 
hedgehog cookies on a branch

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 ~

Lemon Ricotta Cookies

half eaten lemon ricotta cookie

Caramel Oat Crisps

caramel oat cookies on a pretty plate

 

hedgehog cookies on a branch

Hedgehog Cookies...Almost Too Cute to Eat!

Servings: 16 to 20
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Adorable shortbread cookies shaped like hedgehogs.
5 from 4 votes

Ingredients

Cookies:

  • 12 oz butter (unsalted, room temperature)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp salt

Decorating:

  • 8 oz chocolate (chopped)
  • almond slices (for decoration, as needed)

Instructions

Cookies:

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉
  • 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.
  • Put the dough out onto a floured counter and bring it together into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  • 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.

Chocolate and Decoration:

  • 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 afterward for best results.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookie | Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 539IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg

 

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Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

 
5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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16 Comments

  1. 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.

    1. 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!! :)

  2. 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!