I woke up Saturday morning with Eric sleeping soundly next to me and Maki curled up at the end of the bed. It took me a moment to realize what was so strange about this: it had been 2 months since I'd been home on a weekend. Maybe all that travel is why this summer has flown by. I took this as an opportunity to relax a bit, which meant baking cookies, followed by a day of eating and drinking and time spent outdoors with friends (eating and drinking, of course). It was exactly what I needed. A chance to decompress a little.
While I sat at the table, dropping heaping tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet, Eric walked into the room and inspected the cookies that were cooling on the wire rack. Always eager to be my taste-tester, he snatched one up and took a bite.
These are great! Where did you get the recipe?
I looked up.
What do you mean? I created it.
They're really, good. There's some kick there. Cayenne?
Yup. And some cinnamon too.
I love that. Gonna post these on the blog?
Of course.
Awesome.
Spiced Double Chocolate Cookies
Servings 2 dozen cookies
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, shaved using a chef's knife
Instructions
1. Place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
2. In a bowl, stir together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, cayenne pepper and cinnamon and set aside.
3. In the bowl of a food processor (or this can be done with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment) add the butter and both sugars and pulse until combined. This may require that you stop the machine periodically and, using a spatula, pull the butter/sugar mixture from the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs and vanilla to the bowl and pulse to combine.
4. Carefully add half the dry ingredients to the bowl of the food processor and pulse to combine. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients.
5. Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl and, using a spatula, fold in the chocolate.
6. Scoop heaping spoonfuls of dough into the palms of your hands and roll into two and a half inch balls. Place dough balls onto a non-stick baking sheet (or one lined with parchment paper) and space them about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges.
7. Remove from the oven and let sit on the tray for 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Let cool completely before serving.
