Bourbon and Brown Butter Peach Cookies

What makes a cookie "fancy"? Does it need to be elaborately decorated and individually bagged? Does it need to be gigantic and cost more than you ever thought you'd pay for a cookie? For me,fancycookies are more than that: They're uniquely flavored, have multiple components, and tell a story. The fancy cookies I can't stop making areBourbon and Brown Butter Peach Cookies, developed by the brilliantly talented pastry chef Lasheeda Perry.

The generously-sized cookies are made with oats, brown butter,Vietnamese cinnamon, andvanilla. A dollop of bourbon cream cheese frosting is slathered over the top with asmall offset spatula, creating a luxurious layer that holds a spoonful of bourbon-infused peach compote and takes these cookies from delicious to downright dazzling. (Psst: Don't be intimidated by the multiple components; they can all be made in advance!)

These cookies might not be a traditional Juneteenth dessert, but Lasheeda shared that she "... was inspired to make a boozy dessert for this holiday because the foundations of bourbon are rooted in slavery." She reaches for Uncle Nearest Bourbon when making the peach compote and frosting for these cookies in honor of the first known African American master distiller, Nathan "Nearest" Green.

As we tiptoe towards peach season, and celebrate Juneteenth on the way there, these fancy cookies should go straight to the top of your must-bake list.

Until the next batch,