Tuesday, September 20, 2011

TWD—Salt and Pepper Cocoa Shortbreads

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Slice-and-bake chilled icebox cookies with a chocolate dough and salt and pepper?  I just wasn’t sure about this.  For one, I knew my husband wouldn’t even try one.  He doesn’t like shortbread or any cookie with that same similar texture (crazy guy!).  I loved these!  Dangerously so.  I purposely only made half the recipe and then after liking them so much, I took them to a little church meeting to pass them out and not have so many left at home.  The half recipe made about 18 cookies. 

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Oh, I drizzled the cookies with some melted bittersweet chocolate, because, well, I just wanted to.  The cookies themselves are not very sweet and with their added salt and pepper, really benefitted from the extra chocolate.  I also used a dark cocoa in the cookie dough just because I felt like it.  And can I just say that especially when I’m halving a recipe, I love using my kitchen scale to measure ingredients.  Perfect amounts every time.  I followed the recipe exactly and for half the recipe I melted two ounces of bittersweet chocolate for drizzling on the cookies. 

You’ll want to make these cookies, they would be great for many occasions and would be fun to make people try to guess what that taste in them is.  I didn’t think the pepper was too strong and is not over-powering at all and you can definitely taste the salt, which is great with all the dark chocolate! 

Tia at Buttercream Barbie chose the recipe this week for Tuesdays With Dorie and she’ll have the recipe on her blog.  I can’t believe we’re coming down to the home stretch having almost baked our way through Dorie Greenspan's entire book, Baking From My Home to Yours.  I just found out today that I get the pleasure again of choosing another recipe in October.  Besides needing to get back on the French Fridays With Dorie bandwagon, whatever will we (all us TWD bloggers) do when it’s all over?  I know one thing I need to do is go back and get the recipes I either missed before joining the group or couldn’t do some weeks.  I really love that I’ve almost made every recipe in this book.  How cool is that to be able to say?  Thank you, TWD!

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17 comments:

Lisa said...

Well, now you know I've gotta make these.

Unknown said...

Looks great to me. They wouldn't last at my house that's for sure!

Lisa Ernst said...

Yes, you are right about that -- I want to make these, especially with the added chocolate drizzled on top. This recipe reminds me of Dorie's Korova cookies, they are very similar, including the sea salt, but don't have the pepper.

Amanda said...

That is pretty cool that you've almost made everything! I opened my book the other day and then ended up going with something else entirely, but I still refer back to it. I can't believe it's almost over!

Anonymous said...

Amazing! I think if I were going for a cookie - these would be it!
Mary

Jules Someone said...

So glad you've enjoyed your time with us! I really liked this cookie. It's the kind of thing where I kept going back for another bite and another just to see if I could taste the pepper. Good thing I made mine small!

Kayte said...

Okay, I was here, I looked, I saw, I saw chocolate, and chocolate on top of chocolate, so I get credit for being a good commenter, right? Thank you. Now, where is my spoon and that A-1 bottle....

Nicole said...

Wow, those look great with drizzled chocolate and additional salt! I liked these more than expected.

Katrina said...

I almost said something in the post to you, Kayte. I think of you everytime I really enjoy something so chocolaty and can't imagine someone not liking it. ;) Too funny about the A-1. I won't let him actually drink it, though he asks me every time he gets it out, but he is plowing through it very fast.

Kayte said...

Dear Parker: For the Record, I would let you drink A-1 in moderate amounts, but I highly recommend a spoonful once a day...tell HER that it's medicine for your tummy to counter-act all those chocolate smells around there! ;-) Your friend in Chocolate-Not-Loving-It and A-1-Gotta-Love-It...Kayte (Who would also share her sour patch candies with you)

TeaLady said...

AND with drizzled chocolate?? YUMMO!!! They do look awfully tasty.

Jessica of My Baking Heart said...

Oh, how beautiful, Katrina! You never fail to surprise me. :)

spike. said...

love the extra chocolate! can't wait to see what you pick

Erin said...

OH NOM NOM NOM NOM

Unknown said...

I love the contrast of the salt and the drizzle of chocolate on top of your cookies. Gorgeous! I had to put mine in the freezer or I would have eaten all of them :)

Leslie said...

Ohhhh the slat on top makes these cookies for me!

Kathleen said...

OH MY YUMMMMM!