I, reincarnate as the leader of the villainous knight order

Chapter 28: Cookie Making by the Knight Commander

Returning to my room, I lined up the ingredients I bought on the counter of the mini kitchen.

“If I’m going to make something, cookies are a safe bet… Plus, I can make a lot of them.”

Leaving out the butter, eggs, sugar, flour, and cocoa powder, I tidied up the other ingredients. It’s been a while since I’ve made sweets, so I’m actually looking forward to it. Since I didn’t buy cookie cutters, I’ll be making icebox cookies.

I prepared plain dough and cocoa dough… Was it always this tough? Just mixing softened butter and sugar has my arm muscles screaming! Despite having more muscular arms than in my previous life, using different muscles this time around makes me incredibly tired. I mixed in the beaten eggs in batches, then kneaded the sifted flour and cocoa-flavored flour in separate bowls until the powdery texture disappeared.

I decided to make both plain and cocoa versions, and maybe a swirled version too. I read somewhere that chilling the dough in the fridge or freezer results in a moist and crispy texture when baked.

To be honest, I couldn’t really tell the difference, so I usually hurried by chilling them in the freezer. Since I’m in a rush this time too, I guess I’ll just stick them in the freezer.

The cling film I bought on the recommendation of the kitchenware store clerk, which seems to be made of slime surface membrane, was a lifesaver. Somehow shaping the dough into squares… squares…

Well, it’s all the same once it’s in your stomach! They’re not the type to fuss over shapes anyway, right? No worries, no worries.

For the swirled version, I stretched it out with a rolling pin. Since I’m putting the plain dough on the outside, I made both ends one centimeter longer than the cocoa dough… But the corners keep rounding off.

I could cut off the corners to make them square, but ultimately, I can see that I’ll end up with excess trimmings. It’s fine if the corners are round. If there are any odd-shaped pieces, I’ll just eat them myself. I managed to chill the dough in the freezer.

“Whew… Just doing this much is making my arms tired. Maybe I should do some arm stretches.”

After casting a cleaning spell on the utensils I used, I sat on the sofa in my room and stretched my arms. Perhaps because I was tired, I dozed off without realizing it, and when I woke up, an hour had passed.

“Huh! Oh no!”

I hastily took the dough out of the freezer, but the sheet-like dough was frozen solid. If I tried to make a swirl out of this, it would definitely crack.

“Oh well, I’ll just cut the square ones first.”

These ones are hard but not impossible to cut. I noticed that I forgot to sift the sugar when I sifted the flour.

“Sugar melts when it’s baked, right…?”

But man, whether it’s because it’s been a while since I last made them or not, I feel like I’ve gotten really bad at this. Maybe because my hands aren’t used to it?

I arranged the elongated dough pieces in a checkerboard pattern and made the pattern. It’s a bit crooked, but it should be fine.

I wrapped them in cling film again and back into the freezer they went.

“Phew, now I just have to wait for them to cool. I think I’ll go have lunch now.”

In my past life, I used to make snacks in bulk for my younger brothers, so I used to do this much more efficiently. I’m surprised at how long it’s taking me.

When I went to the cafeteria, the chefs kept glancing over at me for some reason, but I pretended not to notice, finished my meal, and quickly returned to my room.

“Yeah, this seems about right.”

Cutting icebox cookies is a race against time.

Once the magic oven is preheated, I swiftly cut the dough into pieces before it melts and loosens, then line them up on the buttered baking sheet.

It would have been nice to have cooking sheets to save on extra butter, I mused as I finished lining up two batches. The preheating is done, and they’ll be ready in fifteen minutes, but there’s still some dough left to cut.

About ten minutes into baking, when the scent of cookies filled the room, there was a knock on the door. Opening it, I found a group of my subordinates assembled.

“What’s up?”

“Oh, come on, you know, right? You’re making such a delicious smell!”

Arnault said with a smile, apparently lured by the smell of the cookies.

“Hold on. They’re not even baked yet. I’ll let you taste them when they’re done.”

“Yay! Then let’s wait here until they’re done!”

“Um, excuse me! Wow, it’s my first time in the Commander’s room. It’s so stylish!”

Simon boldly entered the room, followed by Marius, the squire of the knights, who also came in and admired the interior with sparkling eyes. For me, this room is simple but cozy, with carefully selected high-quality items.

There are three-person and one-person sofas, so my subordinates are all eager to sit here. I may have unwittingly prepared for clandestine meetings with only my squad and the vice commander someday, and it backfired.

“On my way back from the Barony of Taleraan, I knew the Commander could cook, but I never thought it would be for making sweets. Everyone back at the barracks is surprised. Oh, Commander! The light went out! Are they done!?”

Gaspard was talking while glancing at the mini kitchen, but it seems they’re done, and he got excited. I put on mittens, took out the baking sheets, and placed them on a cooling rack.

“Wow, they’re done! Let’s dig in! Ouch, they’re too soft, aren’t they?”

Simon snatched one up and popped it into his mouth. I took out the other batch from the oven, closed the oven lid, and then tapped Simon’s head.

“Of course they are! They’ll harden once they cool down! Besides, eating them when they’re hot won’t let the flavor settle. I’ll make some tea. By the time you finish drinking it, they should be ready, so sit down.”

“Okay.”

He rubbed his head where he was hit and returned to the sofa. While boiling water for tea, I cut the swirled cookies and laid them out on the table, including mine, and they drank quietly. Maybe they were still in awe after seeing Simon scolded earlier.

Returning to the mini kitchen, I checked the temperature of the cookies, which were warm but firm. I separated the ones with imperfect shapes and visible sugar lumps from the edges. Taking a bite, it tasted like simple homemade cookies.

“Hmm… Maybe it tasted better without using eggs. I’ll make that next time.”

“Huh!? Commander, are you making more!? Yay! These are so delicious!”

Simon was munching away from behind without me noticing. After this, he was sentenced to a ban on further eating and the punishment of pickled plums.