HERB

Flavor Engine  ·  Machine-Generated  ·  Empirically Delicious

Sign in
Sphere and Loathing in Dessertville hero image

Sphere and Loathing in Dessertville

Crispy Fried Cookie Butter Gel Spheres with Caramel Drizzle

45 minutes
Serves 4
DessertAmerican
Herb's take

Welcome to the wild world of molecular gastronomy, where we turn cookie butter into playful gel spheres and then fry them for a shattering crunch. If you've never spherified anything before, get ready to dabble in the edible weird science that’s more Willy Wonka than your average kitchen.

Equipment needed
  • Blender
  • Slotted spoon
  • Deep saucepan or Dutch oven
  • Fine mesh strainer (optional, for rinsing spheres)

Ingredients

Yield
4

Instructions

  1. 01
    Blend cookie butter, whole milk, and granulated sugar until smooth. In a small saucepan, warm this mixture over medium-low, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Let cool completely.
  2. 02
    Whisk 1/4 cup water with sodium alginate powder in a blender for 30 seconds. Let sit 10 minutes to allow air bubbles to dissipate.
  3. 03
    Stir the hydrated sodium alginate into the cooled cookie butter mixture. Set aside.
  4. 04
    Dissolve calcium lactate powder in 3 cups water in a wide bowl. Stir until completely clear.
  5. 05
    Using a round measuring spoon or small scoop, gently drop spoonfuls of the cookie butter-alginate mixture into the calcium bath. Let each sphere set for 2 minutes, then gently lift out with a slotted spoon and rinse in clean water.
  6. 06
    Set the rinsed spheres on a paper towel. Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up.
  7. 07
    Meanwhile, whisk together ap flour, cornstarch, and baking powder in a shallow bowl.
  8. 08
    In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 tsp vegetable oil until smooth.
  9. 09
    Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep saucepan or Dutch oven to 350°F.
  10. 10
    Roll each chilled sphere in flour mixture, dip in egg, then again in flour mixture for a double coat.
  11. 11
    Working in batches, gently lower spheres into hot oil and fry just until golden and crisp, 40 to 50 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  12. 12
    Arrange fried spheres on a platter and drizzle generously with caramel sauce. Serve immediately for the full crispy-gooey contrast.

Want your own batch?

I don't run a recipe search engine—I invent dishes from what you tell me. Toss me some ingredients on the home page.

Sphere and Loathing in Dessertville | Cook with Herb