Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Black Forest Chocolate Cookies

So, last year I instituted the concept of birthday cookies which allows me to try different cookie recipes and if the result is delicious, I send the cookies off to family members on their birthdays. I’m mentioning this again because May is the most popular month for birthdays in my family, and I’ve been baking lots of cookies lately. There are two criteria for good birthday cookies. First, as I said, they have to be delicious, and the second requirement is that they be sturdy enough for packing and shipping. There’s an extremely simple cookie from one of my favorite books that I thought was going to be perfect. Then, I tasted it. It’s a pecan butter cookie from The Modern Baker, and after making many recipes from this book this was the first that I didn’t love. The flavor was a little flat, and I think the problem was that there was no salt in the dough. Those cookies ended up in the freezer, and I’ll eventually use them for a cookie crust. I’ll also eventually make the recipe again and add some salt. But since I was disappointed with them, I moved on to the Black Forest Chocolate Cookies shown here, and these are from the book Baked. At first, I was skeptical about the six eggs in the ingredient list and wasn’t sure the texture would be right, but an overnight chilling of the dough transformed it into a scoopable state. You end up with a crunchy, dark chocolate cookie filled with chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and dried cherries. This one was worthy of being a birthday cookie.

Chopped, dark chocolate was melted with butter in a double-boiler and then set aside to cool. Meanwhile the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, and salt, were sifted. In a mixer, six eggs, and don’t be scared because six eggs really does work here, were combined with granulated sugar and brown sugar. The cool chocolate mixture was added with some vanilla extract and mixed. The dry ingredients were added and mixed to just combine. Last, the chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and dried cherries were folded into the dough. The dough will seem much softer than cookie dough should, but it needs to be refrigerated for at least six hours or overnight. After being chilled, it’s just right. As the cookies bake, the tops become crackly, and then you have to wait for what seems like forever for them to cool enough so you can start tasting.

These are decadent, richly-chocolaty cookies with pops of sweetness from the white chocolate and dried cherries. And, they passed the sturdiness test for shipping. The coming months won’t be quite as busy for birthday cookie baking, but I’m always looking for good ideas before the next birthday arrives.

I am a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program.

27 comments:

  1. They look amazing! I love decadent cookies and those are defnitely for me.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. I have the cookbook, I should try them. They look yummy.

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  3. I kind of like birthday pie, but cookies are good, too. These look terrific. Certainly the photos showcase them well. Like the bottom photo in particular. Good post - thanks.

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  4. Chocolate and dried cherries! Oh, love, love, love. Lisa, I received the cookbook in the mail! Thank you. I cannot wait to read through it. My cousin is coming this weekend and I know she will get a kick out of the 'Texas in Paris" storyline.

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  5. I like the idea of cookies for birthdays! And these Black Forest Chocolate Cookies are sinfully delicious. "Baked" is on my cookbook wish list. After sharing these cookies I can see that it will be moving up the list for my next Amazon order. A splendid cookie!

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  6. Lisa, I just baked a batch of choc chip cookies for a grad student's Bday!

    if you want to google the recipe, it's from jacques Torres, and it uses his famous chocoalate disks (feves) instead of chips. Also takes an overnight chill - they are AMAZING. I will blog sometime in the next two weeks, but decided to give you a heads up.

    I am pinning your recipe, as I'm also on a cookie expedition lately ;-)

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  7. Wonderful. Love the idea of Birthday Cookies.. and anything chocolate has my vote!

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  8. As with most things in that book, these sound too good to be true! I'll remember these next time I'm dying for a chocolate cookie.

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  9. My husband requests cookies for his birthday (instead of cakes), so yes, there is such thing such as a birthday cookie/tart at our house :) Who can say no too cookies right? :) P.S., Btw, hopefully I didn't create duplicate comment here.

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  10. They are marvelous! I might even bake those for my husband's birthday!

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  11. What gorgeous looking cookies. They look so soft and moist. I love how they also contain white chocolate - very decadent indeed!

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  12. Those baked boys just NEVER get it wrong. These sound amazing! Definitely birthday-worthy.

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  13. Wonderful ! simple easy and delicious :-) Bookmarked this cookies..

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  14. I love the idea of birthday cookies ... What a great idea?

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  15. Wow, look at all that goodness in a cookie. Chocolate and dried cherries. Delish!

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  16. I'm in search of good sturdy cookies, well for shipment too. This has to be fate! But 6 eggs really scares me. I'll be browsing your birthday cookies!! :D

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  17. Cookies like these are amazing - I can imagine one bite blowing you away :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  18. i detest making black forest cake, mostly because i don't think its taste makes it worth all that effort. these, on the other hand, sound tremendously pleasing. nice!

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  19. It is really great idea to send cookies as B'Day present :) as especially such gorgeous cookies like these..I am sure I would love such present :)

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  20. The cookies look delicious:) I love anything chocolate. The addition of white chocolate and cherries makes them even better. Thanks for the great post:) Have a good weekend!

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  21. Glad you worked it out. Congratulations on making the foodbuzz Top 9!

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  22. What unique cookies - they look just fabulous!

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  23. I love the idea of sending cookies to friends and family for their birthday! What a personal and unique gift.

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  24. These look amazing! I love using dried cherries in cookies, they're delicious.

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  25. I dont really own any books on cookies because all seem to taste the same after a while. But this one is the first i have seen with this many eggs and bet quite the looket! Will bookmark this for a time I feel adventures:)

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  26. Sorry for the typos on my previous comment. Should stop doing this on the phone! So aggrevating!:(

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