Friday, December 13, 2019

Triple Chocolate Pecan Cookies

The only thing better than chocolate is triple the chocolate.  This cookie is for the chocolate lover in your life. Semi sweet, bittersweet and white chocolate galore!!! You will love this cookie.
The recipe said to put three pecan halves on top but I made my cookies smaller and just added one.  I probably won't even add one to the tops of the cookies in the freezer when I bake them.  The cookie is fine without the extra pecan.
To get all that chocolate you use baking bars.
Start with 2 sticks of slightly firm butter.  Normally you have it softened but this time you do not.
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar.  Mix that well with the butter.  You will have to work a little harder because the butter is not soft.
Add two eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix, mix mix
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 2/3 cup all purpose flour
Now to finely chop those chocolate bars.  4 oz each of semi sweet, bittersweet, and white chocolate.
Then mix, mix, mix.
Scoop the dough onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Press the pecan or pecans into the top if you want to add them. Place in a 375 preheated oven.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.  Let cool on baking sheet for 4-5 minutes.
These are going into the freezer.
These are for enjoying now.

Triple Chocolate Pecan Cookie Recipe

2 2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter slightly firm
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
4 oz semi sweet chocolate chopped
4 oz bittersweet chocolate chopped
4 oz white chocolate chopped
toasted whole pecans for decoration

Preheat oven to 375.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Chocolate Orange Cookies

I don't know why we only find chocolate and orange together at the holidays.  Several years ago there were those chocolate oranges that you whacked on the table to break apart into the orange segments.  These cookies are a lot like that chocolate.  And they smell wonderful too.  The whole kitchen smells of oranges.  
These cookies are small but that pack a big punch.
The pecans are optional.  If you want to use another nut you can do that too.
Start with 2/3 cup softened butter.
1 cup sugar
Whip that well and add 1 egg.
Add 1 teaspoon orange extract.  The recipe says you can use orange essential oil in place of the extract.
1 Tablespoon orange peel.  This is what smells so good.
1/3 cup cocoa powder.  Mix well.
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans.  Mix all this up together.
In a separate bowl add 1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon orange peel
Mix that until the orange peel is mixed well with the sugar.
Scoop the dough into balls and then roll in the orange sugar.
These are going in the freezer.  To bake preheat oven to 350 and bake for 9-11 minutes.
They are really good warm so be sure and swipe one when they are hot.

Chocolate Orange Cookie Recipe

1 cup sugar
2/3 cup softened butter
1 Tablespoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon orange extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

In a separate bowl
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange peel

Preheat oven to 350.  Bake for 9-11 minutes

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Cherry Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

I love the chocolate and cherry flavors together, especially those little chocolate covered cherries you find in the store this time of year. These cookies have all those flavors without being so sweet. 
These are the classic crinkle that shows the powdered sugar and the cracks, but in these cookies cracks are good. 
These cookies use a chocolate baking bar instead of cocoa powder.  I think the chocolate bar gives a richer chocolate flavor too.
Chop one 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate bar
Place in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until it is melted.  Do not over heat.
Stir well and the last little bit will melt.
Add 2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs.  Add them one at a time
Mix well.
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all purpose flour. Mix well
12 maraschino cherries chopped.  You can add more if you like lots of cherry.
Pour some powdered sugar into a bowl.
Scoop up a cookie and drop in the powdered sugar.
Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Place in a preheated 350 oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.
These are ready for the freezer.
These are still warm from the oven.  They are so good warm.

Cherry Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Recipe

4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate melted
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 maraschino cherries chopped
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350, bake for 10-12 minutes.