Thursday, September 24, 2009

My attempt at world peace.

The G20 summit is here in Pittsburgh today and tomorrow. While I've already had my fill on all the "(Sigh-Groan-Snicker) I have to go to Pittsburgh but then I got there and it was cool!" articles everywhere, it is kind of nice to have the city in the spotlight.

I don't know how it's all going to play out during the next few days with the protesters and such, but I do know is that these cookies should be served at any G20 related event (or even better, to your family!) to ensure world peace. Just after one bite, especially if still slightly warm, you'll think world peace is a sure thing.World Peace Cookies
Dorie Greenspan's Baking: From My Home to Yours
A pretty lengthy preview of this cookbook can be found here

I've made these quite a few times before and this time I used a dark variety of cocoa powder and wish I hadn't. Usually, I think the darker the chocolate the better, but in this case, I think the flavor of regular ole cocoa powder is much better in this recipe and is nicer contrast to the bittersweet chocolate .

Makes about 36 cookies

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons (11 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chips, or a generous 3/4 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips

Sift the flour, cocoa and baking soda together.


Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add both sugars, the salt and vanilla extract and beat for 2 minutes more.


Turn off the mixer. Pour in the dry ingredients, drape a kitchen towel over the stand mixer to protect yourself and your kitchen from flying flour and pulse the mixer at low speed about 5 times, a second or two each time. Take a peek — if there is still a lot of flour on the surface of the dough, pulse a couple of times more; if not, remove the towel. Continuing at low speed, mix for about 30 seconds more, just until the flour disappears into the dough — for the best texture, work the dough as little as possible once the flour is added, and don't be concerned if the dough looks a little crumbly. Toss in the chocolate pieces and mix only to incorporate.


Turn the dough out onto a work surface, gather it together and divide it in half. Working with one half at a time, shape the dough into logs that are 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 3 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. If you've frozen the dough, you needn't defrost it before baking — just slice the logs into cookies and bake the cookies 1 minute longer.)


Getting Ready to Bake:

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.


Using a sharp thin knife, slice the logs into rounds that are 1/2 inch thick. (The rounds are likely to crack as you're cutting them — don't be concerned, just squeeze the bits back onto each cookie.) Arrange the rounds on the baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them.


Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 12 minutes — they won't look done, nor will they be firm, but that's just the way they should be. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies rest until they are only just warm, at which point you can serve them or let them reach room temperature.

6 comments:

Chocolate Shavings said...

I agree, and those cookies look delicious!

Anonymous said...

I'm sure that there is some kind of chemical explanation for why you prefer one type of cocoa powder to another in this recipe (alkalized vs. non-alkalized). However, I'll simply take your word for it that world peace starts with one of these. There's almost nothing a good cookie can't fix, right?

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sdfiek said...

I've been making these with the addition of 1/4tsp cayenne. It gives them a very subtle heat that sneaks up on you. Makes for very adult chocolate chip cookies!

kaylee said...

i keep the dough on hand in the freezer for that 'oh my god, if i don't have chocolate right now i will rob a Godiva store' feeling. i made some yesterday, didn't even think of the political climate!

Chuck said...

I love homemade chocolate cookies! I have a tall glass of milk, how about sending me a dozen or two?

test it comm said...

Nice looking cookies!