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Wednesday, July 09, 2008

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.

12 comments:

  1. Can't you just imagine Julia Child in her kitchen, opening up a cupboard to pull out a crock, saying "I like to keep a little Peruvian marching powder on hand to add a pick me up to my baked goods! My guests don't know what hit them, but they always come back for more."

    The cookies look fabulous! I would have thought they were crispy too- but that wouldn't have slowed me down from eating one- or 5.

    PS- I had to Google "slang for cocaine" for that little quip- I'm so goody two shoes that I didn't know a single street phrase for blow!

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  2. Those look great...but do I need to report you to the moral character committee? :)

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  3. cocaine and chocolate - what a perfect pair ;)

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  4. Those look so good! I love shortbread and I love chocolate. I will have to try these.

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  5. Those look amazing! I was telling the Husband last night that I feel like I haven't eaten a cookie in like 5 years because I'm watching my weight, but the secret ingredient in your cookies would definitely counteract the caolries. I think I'll have to try those. I live in Baltimore so finding the blow is probably as easy as walking out of my front door. ha ha

    Happy Cooking!

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  6. Mmm Chocolate cookies. All your good stories about these being good sold me on them. I'll have to try.

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  7. I tried chocolate shortbread once a long time ago. It didn't come out right. Maybe now that I'm a more mature cook (holding back snicker) I can try it again. These look tasty.

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  8. Alright - you twisted my arm - your description killed me and then looking at those cookies just put me under. Maybe Psychgrad could come and make them to revive me.

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  9. Yup, they sure are delicious. I am totally making them!!!

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  10. Cocaine and chocolare ARE two of Oprah's favorite things*, so maybe you're on the right track!

    This is yet another recipe I will have to try one day when I have a passable kitchen.




    *This is a completely unsubstantiated claim.

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  11. I can see why there'd be a stampede. These look fab!

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