Confession: the real inspiration for wanting to create a kumquat cookie recipe is strictly because I thought it was fun to say: Kumquat Cookie. The alliteration of [k] with each syllable of the title is so fun. And I had never made a citrus cookie, so here we are.

A participant in my workout classes brought a big bag of kumquats to class the other day and said “We have so many and I don’t like them. Does anyone want them?” I was like sure!! Now admitedly, it had been a while since I’d had a kumquat. My Pawpaw had a kumquat tree right next to his satsuma tree, and as a kid the satsumas reigned supreme. If there was a ripe satsuma, the kumquats didn’t stand a chance at being eaten by my younger self.

When I got home and opened the bag, some of the kumquats had started to spoil. I saved the ones that were still good, but they were definitely passed the point of being able to throw these in a salad or something. They weren’t even juicy enough to make a marmalade. So, the cookie just made sense, especially since you eat the peel.

I’m hoping the recipe reaches some folks who find themselves with an abundance of kumquats not knowing what to do with them lol. I tried to make the cookie interesting by adding in some herbs that would typically pair well with a kumquat marmalade. Also what’s different than my original recipe is that lemon juice should be used in the glaze for some bite. Otherwise the cookie is just a sweet citrus cookie and doesn’t have that acidity that we sometimes think of when thinking of citrus desserts.

These cookies are fluffy, sweet, citrusy, tangy, pretty, and pretty local/authentic in terms of ingredient use and inspiration. I don’t think anyone else is going to show up to the Christmas party with vegan kumquat cookies.

EEEEEK I’m excited for y’all to try these! Please let me know if you do!

A plus tard…