Pennsylvania Dutch Sand Tarts are traditional Christmas sugar cookies know for their thin and crisp texture, and a light dusting of cinnamon. Yet they remain delicious and should be enjoyed year round!
OK let me here it! I know you are confused. “But Evelyne we are in May, Christmas is 7 months away. Why are you talking about these cookies?” Well they are my inspiration for this month’s Food ‘n Flix movie, The Princess Bride. And they would be perfect for Camper’s Christmas on June 25th. 😀 Sand and sugar were stuck in my brain after I saw the movie. How many recipe do you know that come from the concept of sand? This eventually blossomed into sand tarts, all topped with a buttercup in honor of the Princess Bride herself!
The Princess Bride is celebrating its 30th anniversary. This romantic fantasy adventure comedy movie dates back to 1987. Does anyone else feel a little older right about now? Not big complicated plot here. Girl named Buttercup falls in love with farm boy. Farm boy goes away and supposedly dies. Girl must marry mean prince. The girl gets kidnapped for ransom. Girl gets saved by a mean pirate who turns out to be her beloved farm boy. The girl gets kidnapped again by mean prince and is forced to marry the prince…but gets saved in time by farm boy pirate and they live happily ever after. You know, basic story 😉
I actually only saw the film for the first time maybe 10 years ago. I was really reticent at first because princesses and knights and fantasy films….not my thing. But I admit I was wrong. This is an awesome movie! All because of it’s humor. I would call it more a parody of princesses and knights and fantasy, a really good and hilarious parody.
I do not mean to pry, but you don’t by any chance happen to have six fingers on your right hand?
The movie is complete nonsense, totally fun and super cheesy. The only negative comment I have is that at some points I wanted to bitch slap some feminism into the freaking Princess Bride! But I guess that would defeat the purpose of a “helpless princess”!
An so many cameos and famous people in here! Fred Savage, Peter Falk, André the Giant, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and the best is Mandy Patinkin. OMG he is so young and so freaking hilarious. And Buttercup the princess bride, do you recognize her? It’s Claire in House of Cards! OMG!
Food ‘n Flix is hosted this month by Deb at Kahakai Kitchen! In this monthly group a host picks a movie of their choice that pertains to food. Everyone watches the movie and then makes a recipe which the film inspired. It can be any recipe you want. Join us!
Food sightings, a very short list this time: Cheetos, coffee, orange juice, sandwich, buttercups, eel, apple, cheese, bread, wine, tree mushrooms, quick sand sugar, stew, mutton BLT, chocolate covered miracle pill, wheat, and pineapple.
Sand Tarts for Quicksand
Deb warned us it was not a huge food movie but challenged our imagination. When I saw a movie there one was scene that got stuck in my head for inspiration…a weird one. Buttercup gets swallowed up in quicksand and gets rescued by Westley. I am 100% certain they filmed it with sugar. The way the ‘sand’ stuck to the actor’s face when they got out of it…it was sugar. My online searches were pretty much limited to sugar body scrubs, until I came upon the sand tart sugar cookie!
I have never heard of sand tarts before and I was happy to find this old fashioned recipe which makes you dry out the dough for eight hours before cooking for an extra dry texture. Usually this cookie is topped with an almond in the center but I thought a pretty buttercup flower would be much more fitting with the film.
I made the buttercup flowers out of marshmallow fondant which I have used in the past to make a giant wedding dress cookie … a great idea for upcoming weddings! As far as how I made the buttercups, let’s call them simple, childlike and adorable 🙂 Here is a quick video:
Buttercups on Sand Tarts
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/4 sticks butter
- 1 egg
- 2 cups flour
- Egg wash one egg white + 1 tsp. water, whisked
- cinnamon
- Buttercup flowers made from marshmallow fondant
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, start by creaming the butter and sugar together. Mix in the egg well, then slowly work in the flour, fishing the mixing with your hands when the dough gets too stiff to mix.
- Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut the rolled dough into diamonds about 2 inches wide. Transfer the cookies to lined cookie sheets with a flat spatula, about one inch apart.
- With a pastry brush, apply a thin layer of the egg white to the cookies. Dust with cinnamon.
- Cover with a dish towel and leave the cookies out to dry at room temperature for eight hours.
- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 F for 12-15 minutes. Cool on a rack.
- Place a buttercup flower in the center of each sand tart.
Mmm, I love the sound of these and the inspiration from TPB! That pretty little buttercup sitting on top is too adorable. I definitely love this for the comedy (as does my 13 year old son), but I also like seeing all of those fresh young faces (well, maybe not Falk, but…) on the stars that are so seasoned now.
Thank you Heather glad you like my inspiration and the buttercups 🙂 It is a brillinat cheesy fun film that will never age I think lol, unlike Falk.
It is a fun film and I, as always, love how your mind works Evelyne….only you would think about the sand being made from sugar. Great recipe….love your little buttercups.
I am telling you, look at that scene again, the way the ‘sand’ clings to their face…it’s sugar 😉
I’ve never heard of sand tarts before either. You certainly make them look irresistible! Great segue from quicksand to cookies. 🙂 The Princess Bride – a cult classic and my favorite! Probably have seen it 50 times. 🙂
Sand tatrs were new to me too! Thank you so glad they look so inviting. Oh wow you are quite The Princess Bride fan for sure Mj 🙂
This is a really creative way, I would have never made such a connection and make sandy recipe. I have to check this movie, I like romantic movie specially with happy ending. I do not like much drama and sad stories, life is already filled up with those :). Love the buttercup tops, BTW: the clip is not working.
Oh Amira this movie is perfect for you and the boys will love it! It was a fun cookie to do. Oh that is odd. The clip is going live June 1 but I thought it worked elsewhere if I gave the link. Thanks will check.
What a fun concept to do a recipe inspired by a movie! So creative! And I love your little buttercups- super cute!
Yeah Food N Flix is a great group 🙂 Thanks Julie!
Movies and desserts are two of my most favorite things in the world. I love how you combined the two into such a tasty treat.
Thank you Mindy, it was fun one to come up with.
What a cute cookie idea and a darling little garnish. And all this to go with the awesome Princess Bride movie theme, a cult classic! 😉
Thank you so much Melody, they flowers were fun to make.
I absolutely LOVED this film growing up! When I was 12 my mother rented a VCR for my birthday and we rented this film. I’ve watched it like 1000 times and can recite it off by heart, lol! FAb recipe this, but I think I would have been more inclined to create a miracle pill like Miracle Max’s wife Valerie made to revive our hero from the dead, lol! You’ve inspired me, I think I’ll have to create this!
Ok so are the same age…OMG renting a VCR. I have not heard that in so long. Just shared with my colleague and we both think every paper ever handed in was typed…schooling after high school lol. I was tempted do do a chocolate covered miracle pill lol. If you do that post let me know!
These look delicious! I will have to try this recipe and make some for my family. Unfortunately though, cookies at our house wont last longer than a day since my family is full of cookie monsters. 🙂
Ha ha Paula these are sweet and thick, they may last a bit longer. Or make a full batch for 72 cookeis (I only did half).
These cookies are so delightful, Evelyn! They will go perfectly with a cup of tea!
Thank you Agness hey would indeed! 🙂
So many people are obsessed with that movie!! And do you know that we have this thing in Australia where we celebrate Christmas in July because our winter is in the opposite time to the Northern Hemisphere. So for us there is nothing wrong with Christmas in the middle of the year 😀
Oh yes there is a real cult following for this flick! OMG that is so true, even in Quebec there is a Camper’s Christmas on June 25th. So this cookie is totally seasonal now lol.
Princess Bride is such a classic movie from my teen and college years – yes, I’m giving away my age! But even my kids loved it, and still quote lines from it. You picked a good cookie to serve while watching the movie, too! (I especially like any cookie that has cinnamon in it!)
We are all giving away are age on this one lol. Thanks Tami for commenting, yay cinnamon lol.
I love cookies all year long! And sand tarts? I’ve heard of them, but now I need to make them! I remember watching this movie with my daughter—she loved it.
Its a fun family movie for sure. Oh let me know how they turn out if you try them!
Oh, love the cookies and the flowers are perfect on them! Great cookies, great movie! And I can eat Christmas cookies any day! I really enjoyed this post, thanks.
Thanks Pam glad you find them and the movie a hit 😀 Just had one now.
What a cool cooking club, my daughter and I used to watch this movie. Your inspiration and creativity is amazing!
Thank you Cheri! Join us we do it once a month and anyone is welcome 🙂
What a wonderful movie! One of my favorites — even have a copy of it on DVD. 🙂 Anyway, these sand tarts are perfect! Perfect to munch on while marveling at a R.O.U.S. 😉
So fun that it is one of your fave movies John! As long as it is not the R.O.U.S. munching on my tarts! Wait that just sounds bad some how lol.
Ha! Love your inspiration. I freakin’ love this film and was so glad that Deb chose it. (Mine goes up tomorrow.) I was inspired by Buttercup as well.
Ha no way you also were inspired by Buttercup! Can’t wait to see what you made. Glas you liked my cookies 🙂
Wait. That’s Claire from House of Cards? I had no idea.
What a fun post, and a fun idea! I am not a fan of The Princess Bride (yes, I am the one person who’s never liked the cult classic) but I love being inspired by books, movie, etc when I am cooking … Love this
Thanks Sarah glad you like my inspiration, even if the source is not your cup of tea. Yeah I was floored when I realized it was Claire!
I knew she was her the minute I set eyes on her! She looks so young and so different than what she is now. To be honest I prefer the now than the past. I hate the bimbo race, makes me sick. The cookies are adorable!
Something was nagging me about her face lol. Yeah like I said ion my post I was annoyed by how ‘damsel in distress’ she was in the movie…but it is parody.
Ain’t cookies are just great all year round? These cookies are fun, beautiful and delicious, Evelyne.
Thanks Angie gald you like them lol and cheers for cookies year round lol!
Wow, you made your own fondant for the flowers. That’s a lot of hard work Evelyne.
Oh my marshmallow fondant is a breeze to make compared to the classic one 🙂 And foolproof!
I have never heard of this cookies Evelyne…this show how much I still learning…they sure sound great…and very cute.
Enjoy your week 🙂
These sand tarts were new to me too and I can vouch for their yumminess lol.
Evelyne, these cookies are amazing! I love your creativity and how well they turned out in the execution. Inspired plus delicious is always a great combination. 😉
Thanks for playing along this month. I am glad you enjoyed your re-watch.
Thank you so much Deb! I had a lot of fun coming up with the concept. Thanks for the great choice!
I absolutely don’t mind Christmas cookies in May especially if they are as fantastic as these ones.Love your interpretation. Really pretty.
Thank you so much, I don’t mind eating Christmas cookies either right now lol (like right now).