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Showing posts with label chocolate-recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chocolate-recipe. Show all posts

Holiday Cookie: Chocolate Bon-Bon Drops


Recipe photo









From Denny:  These are simple chocolate cookies that your kids could help you make.  You roll the dough into small balls before placing on the cookie sheet.  Little hands love to do fun projects like rolling cookie dough.  The trick is to keep them from stuffing the raw dough into their mouths! :)

These easy cookies are deep-chocolate rich, topped off with a very sweet vanilla glaze.  For the holidays you could top them with a Hershey's chocolate kiss or a bright red cherry or other holiday decoration to dress up the cookie tray.  Better yet, give them away as a holiday food gift and become the favorite friend and relative for life!

Included are reviews of bakers who tried this recipe.  Since I enjoy reading them I thought you might too.


Celebrate Dark Chocolate Queen Duvet

Celebrate Dark Chocolate Queen Duvet







Chocolate Bon-Bon Drops


From:  King Arthur Flour, ingredients list available in ounces and grams as well as volume.  "Tender, deep-chocolate cookies with a rich, sweet vanilla glaze, these bite-sized beauties are perfect for a holiday cookie tray or hostess gift. Topped with a chocolate pearl, or bright red cherry, each cookie is a jewel to the eyes and a gem for the tastebuds."

Hands-on time:  8 mins. to 10 mins.

Baking time:  7 mins. to 10 mins.

Total time:  15 mins. to 20 mins.

Yield:  approx. 2 dozen cookies, depending on size

Tips from our bakers


  • When making the glaze, heavy cream will give the richest, most creamy results. The creaminess of the glaze is a perfect counterpoint to the crisp, shortbread-like consistency of the cookie.
  • While you can choose to skip the chilling step for these cookies, they'll bake up flatter, and not as nicely domed as when chilled.
  • For festive chocolate-peppermint bon-bon drops, replace the vanilla bean paste in the glaze with 3 drops of peppermint oil, and garnish each cookie with a sprinkling of peppermint crunch or crushed candy canes.


Ingredients:

Chocolate Cookies



  • 12 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup Double-Dutch Dark Cocoa or Dutch-process (European-style) cocoa
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Vanilla Glaze


  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream OR half and half OR milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Directions:


1) Place all the cookie dough ingredients in the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until a soft, smooth dough is formed. Remove from the bowl, and shape into a 3/4" thick disc. Wrap well in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes, or as long as overnight.

2) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Shape the dough into small balls, about the size of a large gumball (a teaspoon cookie scoop is a huge help here). Space evenly on the cookie sheet, leaving about 2" between cookies. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes. Watch the cookies carefully to avoid scorching the bottoms.

3) Remove the cookies from the oven and allow to cool slightly on the pans while you prepare the glaze. For the glaze:  blend the sifted confectioners' sugar with the heavy cream and vanilla bean paste. This glaze will be thick, almost icing consistency. If you use half and half (or milk) and vanilla extract, the glaze will be much thinner and not as rich.

4) Using a teaspoon, portion the glaze over the barely warm cookies. You can pipe the glaze from a piping bag or zip-top bag with a corner cut off as well. Top with chocolate pearls, slivers of maraschino cherry, or chocolate sprinkles. Store any leftovers at room temperature for up to a week.


Celebrate Chocolate Silver Square Necklace

Celebrate Chocolate Silver Square Necklace





Reviews



  • Jen 
  • I just have a question for KAF: I want to make this with the mint glaze suggested in the tips section, but I only have mint extract (no peppermint oil like the "tips from bakers" suggests). How much mint extract do you recommend using to substitute for the 3 drops of peppermint oil? 
    Try using 1/4 teaspoon of extract. Frank @ KAF.
  • Erin from Boston
  • These won me first place at a cookie swap! Everyone LOVED them! 
    Congratulations! ~ Amy
  • Amanda from Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Loved the texture of the cookie -- reminded me of a cakey brownie! I found the glaze way too sweet for my taste though.
  • Jennifer from Dallas, TX
  • I forgot to say I used I Can't Believe It's Not Butter light (from the tub) rather than butter, and the consistency and taste worked out.
  • Mitchell Geller from Watertown MA
  • Absolutely delicious, and dead easy. The second time I made them I doubled the recipe for the dough only, and omitted chilling, to make a sort of sublime home-made Oreo. The rsponse to these was amazing, and they were really delicious.
  • Sofia from Phoenix, AZ
  • These are fantastic, and it's such a simple recipe! I also made a vegan version using Earth Balance soy margarine instead of butter. Equally delicious.

* * *  Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  Thank you for supporting this cause.  You rock!



Subscribe in a reader to Romancing The Chocolate

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place.  A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

* * * Be sure to check out the Romancing The Chocolate Amazon book store for cookbooks on chocolate!

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Decadent Chocolate Recipe: Chocolate Brownie Sundae

Photo by Cynthia L. NoblesThe Chocolate Brownie Sundae is a decadent combo of a souffle-like brownie served warm, ice cream and homemade chocolate sauce.
Photo: Cynthia L. Nobles/The Advocate newspaper, Baton Rouge, Louisiana


From Denny:  Love brownies and vanilla ice cream?  Enjoy this brownie that is so much like a chocolate souffle and serve it warm with melting ice cream, smothered in a homemade chocolate sauce.  There is a lot of chocolate in this recipe, so stock up before the world chocolate prices go up! This is a dessert that would appeal for entertaining during the holidays, making you their favorite relative! 


Merry Christmas Star Earring Circle Charm

Santa hat decks out Merry Christmas greeting on Christmas star







Chocolate Brownie Sundae

Recipe is from Brendan Coughlin, of Lincoln, Mass., who thinks he may have found it years ago in a food magazine.

Serves:  6

Ingredients:

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
6 Tbls. unsalted butter
4 large eggs
2/3 cup sugar, divided
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/2 pints vanilla ice cream
Chocolate Sauce 


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium glass bowl, melt chocolate in microwave. Add butter and whisk until smooth. Let mixture cool slightly.

2. Separate yolks from whites of 3 eggs. In a large bowl, whisk yolks, the remaining whole egg, and 1/3 cup sugar until blended. Add melted chocolate and vanilla and whisk until smooth.

3. In a medium bowl or bowl of an electric mixer, whisk reserved egg whites on medium-high until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating 10 seconds between additions. Continue beating until whites are firm and glossy.

4. Whisk one quarter of the meringue into the chocolate mixture until well-blended. Fold remaining meringue into chocolate mixture until no streaks remain.

5. Scrape mixture into an ungreased 9-inch round pie plate. Bake 35 minutes or until the souffle is cracked and no longer wobbles.

6. Cut into serving-size pieces and put into individual dessert bowls. Top with scoops of ice cream. Drizzle with Chocolate Sauce.



Chocolate Sauce


From:  Brendan Coughlin, of Lincoln, Massachusetts, who can't remember what food magazine she found featured in years ago.

Makes:  2-1/2 cups

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. semisweet chocolate
2 cups milk
3 Tbls. sugar
3 large egg yolks


Directions:

1. Combine first three ingredients into saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks until smooth. Add boiling chocolate in thin stream, whisking continually.

3. Strain sauce through a fine sieve. Cool slightly before serving.


Christmas Diva Cat Square Compact Mirror

Christmas Diva Cat sending you a giggle, a smirk, a full blown laugh! Happy Holidays!



* * *  Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  Thank you for supporting this cause.  You rock!


Subscribe in a reader to Romancing The Chocolate

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place.  A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

* * * Be sure to check out the Romancing The Chocolate Amazon book store for cookbooks on chocolate!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Holiday Cookie: Double-Shot Mocha



From Denny:  OK, never write a cookie post right before lunch.  It all looks so good you want to rush into the kitchen and start baking! :)  This cookie recipe is basically a dense brownie with pools of melting chocolate oozing out when you break them open straight out of the hot oven!
  
There are two cups of chocolate chips and chocolate chunks in this awesome recipe, certainly more than I'm used to baking.  It's no wonder you can get your chocolate fix in one small cookie all at once.  


If you have the discipline to wait until the cookie cools all those chocolate pools solidify into huge nuggets of gooey goodness.  No one ever said these little chocolate gems would last long in your house - or mine! 


Peace Christmas Star Round Ornament

Enjoy the profound Peace of the Christmas season!







Double-Shot Mocha Chunks


Yield: 3 dozen cookies

From:  King Arthur Flour


Hands-on time:  10 mins. to 15 mins.

Baking time:  10 mins. to 10 mins.

Total time:  20 mins. to 25 mins.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa
  • 1 3/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour or King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chocolate chunks: semisweet or white

Directions: 

1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or line with parchment two cookie sheets. 

2) In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugar, baking powder, espresso powder, and salt. 


3) Add the eggs and vanilla, beating until smooth. 


4) Stir in the cocoa powder and flour; the dough will be stiff. 


5) Mix in the chocolate chips and chunks. 


6) Drop the cookies by tablespoonfuls (about 1 1/2" balls) onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 1/2" between them. A tablespoon cookie scoop works well here. 


7) Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Remove them from the oven, and allow them to cool on the pan. 



Tips from our bakers


  • Reader Mrs. M. says she makes a "Chunky bar" variation of these with 4 ounces (2/3 cup) chocolate chips, 4 ounces (3/4 cup) raisins, and 4 ounces (3/4 cup) peanuts, instead of all chocolate chips and chunks. We found that these cookies will be VERY soft coming out of the oven, but don't panic; they'll firm up nicely as they cool. Thanks, Mrs. M!

  • For slightly flatter cookies, bake on a greased (not parchment-lined) cookie sheet; and press them down gently with your fingers before baking.



Love Light Large Mug


Let your love light shine!

* * *  Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  Thank you for supporting this cause.  You rock!


Subscribe in a reader to Romancing The Chocolate

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place.  A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

* * * Be sure to check out the Romancing The Chocolate Amazon book store for cookbooks on chocolate!



reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Cookies: Spiced Chocolate Macaroons


Chop Chocolate So It Will Melt Quickly 
From Denny:  Do you like spice cookies but crave the addition of chocolate?  This cinnamon and chocolate pairing also happens to improve as the cookie ages.  What could be better than that? A stale cookie that tastes great! :)  

The cookie also contains the background dark note from a hint of cloves like I like to use in my morning stovetop cooked oatmeal.  There is nothing like the pairing of cinnamon and cloves to add richness to a dish whether sweet or savory.

The nut used in this cookie is slivered almonds.




Spiced Chocolate Macaroons

From:  McCormick

Makes:  4 dozen or 24 (2 cookie) servings

Prep Time:  20 minutes

Cook Time:  10 to 12 minutes per batch


8 ounces blanched almonds or slivered almonds (1 1/2 cups)
1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
4 ounces unsweetened or semi-sweet baking chocolate, chopped
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon kirsch or water




1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set


aside.

2. Place almonds, 1 cup of the sugar, cinnamon and cloves in food 
processor; cover. Process just until nuts are finely ground. Add chocolate; 
cover. Process until chocolate is finely grated, but not melted. Add egg 
whites and kirsch; cover. Process just until dough clings together.

3. Place remaining 1/4 cup sugar in small bowl. Shape dough into 1-inch 
balls (dough will be sticky). Roll balls in sugar to coat. Place about 2 
inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten


balls to about 1/4-inch thickness.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until tops are set but centers remain moist. Do
 not overbake. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; 
cool completely.


per serving


Calories: 131
Fat: 7 g
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 8 mg
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 3 g




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