12 Days of Cookies 2011

[SoonToBeWed]

Alex's Dark Chocolate Whoopie Pies With Toasted Almond Cream
Ingredients
The whoopee pies:
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 stick (or 1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cubed
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Zest from 1/2 lemon
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

The filling:
1 1/4 cups milk
1 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1/2 cup melted chocolate, for drizzling or dunking, optional

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 F.

Make the pies: In a medium heatproof bowl, combine the unsweetened chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate and butter. Fill a pot (relatively the same size as the bowl) about 1/3 full with water and place it over medium heat. When the water simmers, place the bowl of chocolate and butter over the simmering water and lower the heat. You want to melt the chocolate and butter gently together, stirring and scraping the sides (to avoid scorching).

In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and lemon zest. Set aside.

Separately, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

When the chocolate and butter is melted, remove the bowl from the heat; stir to assure it's completely mixed and transfer to another medium bowl. This will accelerate cooling. Allow the chocolate to cool a few minutes. Whisk in the egg mixture. Whisk in the flour mixture. Only whisk until blended, over-mixing can affect the texture of the pies.

Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray (alternatively, use a piece of fitted parchment sprayed with nonstick spray). Drop the batter in large spoonfuls (keeping the shapes as round as possible) on the baking sheet. You are aiming for rounds that are about 2 inches in diameter. Take care to leave some room (about 2 inches) between each one to allow for spreading that will occur as they bake.

Place the tray in the hot oven and bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Check the pies. Leave in the oven an additional minute or two if they seem under baked. The dough will lose some of its shiney-ness and no longer look wet but will still feel soft. Remove the tray from the oven and allow them to cool for about 5 to 10 minutes before gingerly lifting them off the baking sheet and onto a flat surface.

Make the filling: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk to a simmer and add about 3/4 of the cup of the toasted almonds. Reserve the remaining almonds. Shut off the heat and allow the almonds to "steep" in the milk, for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain the milk and pour it back into the same pan, discarding the almonds from the milk.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat together the sugar, flour, cornstarch and egg yolks until thick and smooth, 3 to 4 minutes.

Pour some of the hot milk mixture over the eggs and whisk to blend. Pour the egg mixture back into the milk; turn on a low to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the almond extract. Continue to cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, stirring to make sure it doesn't cling to the bottom of the pan and burn, until very thick. Pour the cream into a clean bowl. Stir in the remaining almonds. Cover tightly with a layer of plastic so the cream doesn't form a skin. Allow to cool.

Assemble: "Sandwich" some of the cream in between two of the chocolate rounds. Drizzle with melted chocolate, if desired.

12 Days of Cookies 2010

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12 Days of Cookies 2004

12 Days Of Cookies 2003

[SoonToBeWed]

Guy's Blondies With Dark Roots
Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 1/3 tablespoons (1/3 cup) unsalted butter , at room temperature
3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mist an 8-inch-square glass baking dish with cooking spray .

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.

Beat the butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Add the brown sugar and beat 3 to 4 more minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Fold in the hazelnuts, coconut and chocolate chips with a wooden spoon.

Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes in the pan before slicing.

12 Days of Cookies 2010

12 Days of Cookies 2009

12 Days of Cookies 2008

12 Days Of Cookies 2007

12 Days Of Cookies 2006

12 Days Of Cookies 2005

12 Days of Cookies 2004

12 Days Of Cookies 2003

[SoonToBeWed]

Apple Cider Snickerdoodles
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups apple cider
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 3 tablespoons for rolling
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped red and green crispy apple chips, plus whole chips for garnish
2 teaspoons apple pie spice


Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat the cider in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Continue to cook until syrupy and reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 12 to 14 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.

Whisk the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl until smooth. Beat the butter with 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar and the light brown sugar in a separate bowl on medium-high speed until fluffy and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the reduced cider and the egg (the mixture may look slightly curdled). Stir in the flour mixture and 1/4 cup of the chopped apple chips until combined.

Stir together the remaining 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of chopped apple chips and the apple pie spice in a small bowl. Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls, using lightly moistened hands if the dough is too sticky, and then roll in the spiced sugar mixture. Place the dough balls 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and top with a few pieces of whole apple chips. Bake until the edges are just set but centers are still soft, 11 to 13 minutes, rotating pans halfway through the baking time. Cool 2 to 3 minutes on the baking sheet, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.


12 Days of Cookies 2010

12 Days of Cookies 2009

12 Days of Cookies 2008

12 Days Of Cookies 2007

12 Days Of Cookies 2006

12 Days Of Cookies 2005

12 Days of Cookies 2004

12 Days Of Cookies 2003