Like a frightened colt

Have you ever seen a stampede? It's fast, it's powerful, and it's liable to crush you if you don't get out of the way. That is exactly the reaction this cookie elicits. Seriously, do not get in between the cookie tray and the people you are setting it out for. Dangerous.

I initially made these cookies for Thatboy to take into work with him. But I made a ton (one of the perils of only have 3 cookie cutters to your name, and 2 of them being for Christmas cookies). So I was piling them on the plate I heard a "WOAH - I don't need to bring that many in, my office isn't that big." So I gave him about a dozen and kept the rest for an upcoming party. There were complaints. One of Thatboy's coworkers told me the cookies were gone within an instant. When I informed her I had tried to send in more, she sent Thatboy a nasty look. Apparently there was a fight for the last cookie, and one poor individual who didn't realize there were cookies was devastated when he heard what he missed.

The rest of the cookies got put out on my big "I'm out of town for the 4th of July" party. Anyone who didn't grab a cookie was quickly advised by their spouse to get one. One of my friends remarked that she didn't think she'd like the cookies because they looked crispy, and was pleasantly surprised when they were soft. Then she dragged her husband over to the dessert table (oh yeah, a whole table of desserts, pretty much the theme of the next few days).

I guess the point I'm trying to make is these are good cookies. And I completely think its due to the secret ingredient - cocaine. Just a little in every cookie. I mean, that stuff's not cheap! Or the secret ingredient might be the unsweetened chocolate shortbread. I think it creates a cookie that's not overly sweet and lately I've become nearly obsessed with shortbread cookies because they actually turn out well for me and cookies do not always turn out well for me. I also think the mixture of the unsweetened cookie and the sweetened chocolate adds just the right amount of chocolatey goodness. Although I'm sure the cocaine doesn't hurt.

Double Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 Tbsp butter
  

1. Melt baking chocolate in stainless steel bowl set over pan of simmering water.
   
2. Mix flour and salt together and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth.
4. Add melted chocolate and vanilla.
5. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture and mix until just blended. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for an hour.
6. Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out dough to 3/8 inch on lightly floured surface and cut with cookie cutters. Bake for 8 minutes and cool on pan.
7. Melt chocolate chips with 1 Tbsp butter in stainless steel bowl set over pan of simmering water.
8. Dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate and let chocolate set.