Dark Chocolate Shortbread

Tags

baked goods, biscuit, breakfast, brunch, chocolate, cocoa, cookie, dark chocolate, dessert, food, foodie, pie crust, postaday2011, recipe, shortbread, snack, sweet, tea, treat

The other day I made classic shortbread that is also really great dipped in dark chocolate. Last night, I modified my recipe and made chocolate shortbread, which would be really great dipped in white mint chocolate. These make a tasty after work snack or a brunch treat.

Dark Chocolate Shortbread

Chocolate Shortbread Ingredients:
2 c. flour, 1 1/4 c. butter softened, 1 c. sugar, 1 tsp. almond extract, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/2 c. dark cocoa baking powder, 1/2 tsp. fresh ground sea salt, extra sugar for sprinkling

Chocolate Shortbread Directions:
Preheat oven to 300°F. Cream together butter, sugar and extract. In separate bowl combine flour, cocoa and salt. Stir flour into butter mixture 1/4 cup at a time. Chill dough for about an hour (it’ll help the flavors richer and make the dough more manageable). Press dough into pie dish or roll out on floured surface and use cookie cutters. Use prongs on fork to make designs on shortbread. Sprinkle with sugar before baking. Depending on thickness, bake for about 20 minutes. It’s hard to tell when it’s done due to the dark color of the dough. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack. If you used a pie tin, cut shortbread into fantails before cooling. Serve at room temperature with hot tea or coffee.

I have a few of these tucked aside, to help me get through a busy weekend…
What does this weekend have in store for you?

Dark Chocolate Cookies

Tags

chocolate, cocoa, cookie recipe, cookies, dark chocolate, dark cocoa, dessert, dessert recipe, newly wed, recipe, sweets

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! The entire world loves chocolate (except for my Pumpkin)… I love dark chocolate. Chocolate cake, chocolate pie, chocolate pudding, I’ve even been known to eat a square of baking chocolate. I’ve used and modified many chocolate cookie recipes and this is my favorite.

Dark Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients: 3/4 c. melted butter, 1/2 c. dark cocoa powder, 1 c. dark brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1 Tbsp. vanilla, 2 c. flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 c. sugar

Directions:
Mix together butter, cocoa, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Slowly stir flour mixture into chocolate batter half a cup at a time. Cover bowl and refrigerate for a few hours. Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough into 1″ balls and roll in sugar. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove cookies from tray and place on a cooling rack.

*Usually I bake chocolate with almond extract instead of vanilla, but this recipe I actually used vanilla extract.

Hubster was standing over the oven with a jar of peanut butter in hand, waiting to spread it on the warm cookies.

What flavor do you like the best paired with chocolate?