Just wondering if this is a local thing or if others around the country have heard of them too. They are popular here but many of my out of town friends have never heard of them. A friend of mine that moved to Oklahoma City hasn't been able to find a bakery that makes them either.


Blarney stones, which take their name from an Irish relic reputed to bestow glib speech and good luck ("History of the Blarney Stone", www.authenticireland.com, viewed on November 9, 2009), are delicious sponge cake squares that are frosted and rolled in crushed peanuts. These confections are not quite cakes and not quite cookies, but are all delicious and well worth the preparation time they require.

Although blarney stones are supposed to resemble the actual Blarney Stone of Blarney Castle, Ireland, the origin of this dessert is unclear. There are many similar cookies that are also called "blarney stones".

What are they?

Going by the results of the poll so far, I'd guess LOCAL THING.

Blarney Stones
•1 cup butter, softened
•3/4 cup packed brown sugar
•1/4 cup sugar
•1 package (3.4 ounces) instant pistachio pudding mix
•1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
•1/2 teaspoon almond extract
•2 eggs
•Green food coloring, optional
•2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1 package (10 to 11 ounces) butterscotch chips
•1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
•In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugars, pudding mix and extracts until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add a few drops of green coloring if desired. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in chips and nuts (batter will be stiff). Cover and refrigerate for several hours. Shape into 1/2-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
•Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.
•150 servings, 2 per serving. Yield: 25 dozen.

^^^ Ummmm...those are not what we call Blarney Stones. It is sponge cake that is cut into squares, frosted on all sides and rolled in chopped peanuts.

Blarney Stones

5 eggs, separated
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup hot water

Beat egg whites until stiff and they will hold peaks; set aside.

Beat egg yolks, add sugar and beat for three minutes. Add vanilla. Add hot water gradually, beat two minutes. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt, add to mixture and beat two minutes.

Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.

Pour into greased and floured 7x14x2 pan (I used an 11x15x2) and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Cool and cut into approximately 35 bars. (I make them about 2 ½ x2 ½ and get about 24)

Icing

1 cube margarine
1/2 cup canned milk
2 tsp. vanilla
2 lbs. powdered sugar
salted peanuts, ground

Mix melted margarine, milk and vanilla together, gradually add enough powdered sugar to make icing stiff enough to spread but not run. Completely cover each bar with the icing, then roll in salted peanuts which have been ground. (Easiest way to do this is hold each bar between fingers, ice four sides, then put one of the iced sides down on the peanuts and ice the remaining two. Then roll the entire bar in the peanuts.)

Here's a picture of what they look like.

http://mallardofdiscontent.blogspot.com/2011/03/eat-me-im-irish.html

BLOCKED
Thanks Queen, now I have to explain why I was looking at blarney stones

"Eat me I'm Irish"?
I.....you.....
Never mind, I'm not gonna go there and lock your perfectly good thread.

^^^^ using his Blarney stones

Who? Me?

They sound like a whole pile of trouble to me!

My mom used to make those for special occasions (graduations, baptisms, etc). We don't call them Blarney Stones though (we're not Irish). Our name for them is escaping me at the moment.

That is a funny name for food Royal Rider! Who ever heard of "escaping me at the moment" ?

food?

Hardy har har...we call them Gold Bricks.