Passion Fruit (Lilikoi) Melting Moments

We can all use a moment to simply sit and allow the stresses of life to melt away, can't we?  A bit of pure bliss to re-balance our minds and bring a moment of zen... Passion Fruit Melting Moments can do just that.

While Liv Life recipes usually consist of plant based ingredients, this is one where I bring out the good, real butter.  Had I never tasted rich, real butter in my prior baking days, my cube of Earth Balance would have worked just fine (and to keep these dairy free I use Earth Balance when my lactose intolerant son in home).  But for those who crave a rich, buttery taste, this is the recipe to bring out the good stuff.

With a light texture that does indeed melt in your mouth, these little moments become irresistible.  Add the juice of a passion fruit (Lilikoi in the Hawaiian Islands) and they take on an ethereal quality, simply melting all all your troubles away as they in turn melt your mouth.

Introduced to Melting Moments from a friend who bought me a copy of the gorgeous Australian magazine "Delicious", these cookies have been a regular in our kitchen for years.  And when passion fruit is in season, the passion fruit version is a must.

Found at your local farmer's market (or grown in your own back yard!), passion fruits are somewhat funny looking, purplish orbs that seem so light it's hard to believe they have anything inside.  Perfectly ripe when a bit wrinkled on the outside, cutting open a passion fruit reveals juice and seeds - the seeds seeming to be in little "pouches" almost like pomegranates, only bigger.

Called natures first "Sweet Tart", I find passion fruit a bit too tart to eat out of hand (though some people do - and different types are sweeter or tarter than others), but I love the intense tropical flavors when mixed into something like a smoothie, or buttercream as in in these Melting Moments.

Easy to put together with just a few ingredients (note it's the cornstarch not the butter that actually brings the magical melting textures), Melting Moments are an ideal kitchen project with kids, or something that can come together fairly quickly when planning a picnic, potluck or tea.

So join me for a quick trip to a moment of balance, won't you?  Sweet, rich and brightly flavored Melting Moments await.  Namaste my friends.

Passion Fruit Melting Moments
Tiny cookies that do indeed melt in your mouth, fresh passion fruit juice boosts these Melting Moments into the irresistible category.  Ethereal and brightly flavored, these beauties won't last long on any plate at your next gathering.  Enjoy!
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Cookies:
1 stick (8 Tbs or 125 g) good quality butter, room temp
Juice from 1-2 Passion Fruits (about 2 Tbs)
1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cornstarch

Passion Fruit Buttercream:
1/2 stick (4 Tbs) butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
about 2 Tbs passion fruit juice - (a generous 2 Tbs is fine :)
1 tsp lemon juice

Additional powdered sugar for garnish

Use the seeds if you like!

Preheat oven to 325ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.  

In a medium bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar until light and creamy.  Add the passion fruit juice and blend well.

Add the flour and cornstarch and continue mixing until a soft dough comes together - I've been known to mix with my hands at this point, sort of kneading as with bread to gather the dough.

Roll teaspoon-sized balls of dough and place on the prepared baking sheet about an inch apart.  Dipping a fork into additional cornstarch, flatten each ball gently to about half its size.

Place baking sheet into the oven and bake 12-14 minutes, or until just beginning to turn pale golden.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool a minute or so on the baking sheet, then move to a wire rack to cool.

To prepare the Passion Fruit Buttercream, beat the butter, powdered sugar, and passion fruit and lemon juices until fluffy.

When cookies are cooled, spread a small amount of the buttercream between two cookies.

Just before serving dust the cookies with additional powdered sugar.

Liv Life Note:  I've not grown passion fruit myself, but I've seen vines around and the flowers are lovely!  Note that not all passiflora vines produce edible fruits, but I've found a few that do:
Passiflora Frederick
Possum Purple
Passiflora Victoria
Have you grown your own?  I'd love to hear your experience or growing tips!