let the baking begin

October 13, 2010

let the baking begin

Ahhhh a two-week break from tailgate prep is coming to an end with a pre-emptory strike at this weekend's festivities and the first batch of goodness out of my Dacor ovens, hot chocolate cookies. Let me first say three things: one, hallelujah and praise the Lord, Purdue beat Northwestern last weekend; two, nineteen days until Boiler basketball season; and three, you can eat too much cookie dough.

I found this recipe on another food blog which I admire as much for the photography and the layout as the food. It will be chilly on Saturday, so why not hot chocolate cookies? Probably taking cider to warm up. Definitely fixing breakfast casserole, baking coffee cake, cutting up honeycrisp apples and drenching them in lemon juice and ordering Jimmy John's. Yep, not making the main dish this week. Our Habitat for Humanity build starts this week and I'll be on site doing Tyvec, windows, doors and roofing most of the day Friday along with providing coffee, treats and lunch for 25 volunteers. So, just like with the cookie dough there is a limit. I'm good, but most of the time I am not crazy. Besides, last year the Jimmy John's tray was awesome and devoured. Never fear, Thelma and Louise (aka my husband and Lance) will fire up the grill for burgers and dogs.

Here you go, these cookies are delightful and cute. I made the first two trays without chocolate chips and with mini-marshmallows. The second batches were made with mini chocolate chips and no mini-marshmallows. Decide for yourself. Just be careful and keep your dough "snitching" to an acceptable amount. I think I need a little restorative tea while I clean up the kitchen.

Did the dishes. Sipping the tea and ready to share a recipe.

fresh from the oven

Hot Chocolate Cookies

1 C unsalted butter at room temperature
1 C sugar
2/3 C packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/4 C flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
4 envelopes hot chocolate mix (not sugar free)
1 C mini chocolate chips (optional)
1 C mini marshmallows (optional)

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, soda and hot chocolate mix. Add flour mixture to batter and mix until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips if desired. Chill dough one hour (I didn't do this and the cookies were just fine). Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop heaping tablespoons of dough about 2-inches apart on lined sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes. If topping with mini marshmallows, remove the cookies after 8 minutes and arrange marshmallows on top and return to oven for 2 minutes. Cool sheets on racks and remove cookies to cooling racks after 3-5 minutes. Makes 3 dozen cookies.