Tuesday, August 12, 2014

chocolate espresso cookies with cacao nibs

"A new British survey has revealed that 9 out of 10 people like Chocolate. The tenth lies."
 – Robert Paul

I am just a little in love with cacao nibs these days. I cannot believe I waited so long before I used these in my bakes and now all I dream about are ways to bake with them!

Cacao nibs are cacao beans that have been roasted, separated from their husks, and broken into smaller pieces. Apparently, they are even better for you than dark chocolate (see here). That's just one more reason to eat them!!

So in one of my many cacao dreams, I thought of putting together chocolate, cacao and coffee. The thought itself was so intriguing that I could even smell the cookies as I dreamt.

That meant a session with Uncle Google.

And the result were these delicious chewy cookies packed full of chocolate and coffee flavours!
As with most cookies, I started by creaming together butter and sugar until it turned light and fluffy.
I usually make myself a glass of ice latte and read a book while waiting.

Into this, the eggs were added one at a time, and beaten.
Then the vanilla extract was added, then the cocoa powder and espresso powder.
God, I LOVE the smell of espresso powder. This would be my drug of choice if I ever become a drug addict!

Hehe.

Finally the flour and baking soda was added and blended until all the flour had disappeared.
The chocolate chips were also added and I used to pulse function on my mixer to mix them into the cookie dough.
There are two things I'd like to point out here.

1. The chocolate chips I had used here will hold their shapes after baking. There are times when I want my cookies to have different textures and I find these crunchy chocolate chips very well-suited to this purpose. You can get them at specialty baking stores - just ask the staff for help.

2. I always chill my dough for a few hours (over night if I can) before I shape and bake them. Why? See here.

I used an ice cream scoop to dish the cookies and topped them with cacao nibs before baking them.
When baked, they were left on the tray for about 10 minutes before I transferred them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
And there you have it.

Get a glass of cold, cold milk. And tuck in.

:D

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RECIPE
Chocolate Espresso Cookies with Cacao Nibs (Makes about 30 cookies)
Adapted from bakingbites

Ingredients:
2 cups (250g) plain flour
1 teaspoon (6g) baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (3g) salt
1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups (300g) sugar - I reduced this by 50%
2 large eggs
1/2 cup (59g) cocoa powder - I used Valrhona
1/4 cup (30g) espresso powder - I used illy
1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups (228g) semisweet/bittersweet chocolate chips
Cacao nibs for decoration (optional) - I used Valrhona

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (176.6°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
3. In a large bowl. cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in eggs, one at a time, followed by cocoa powder, espresso powder and vanilla extract. Mix ingredients for 1-2 minutes, or until completely combined.
4. With the mixer on low speed, gradually blend in the flour mixture until no streaks of dry ingredients remain. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and drop onto prepared baking sheet. (I chill the dough for at least 2 hours before this).
6. Bake for 9-11 minutes, until cookies are set but still soft.

7. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

This post is linked to the event, Little Thumbs Up organised by Bake for Happy Kids and My Little Favourite DIY, and hosted by Diana from the Domestic Goddess Wannabe.

12 comments:

  1. Hi Diana ...."And there you have it." Yes may I?

    ReplyDelete
  2. When I read the first line of your blog, I laugh :P
    You are so TRUE! And I always love to see your desserts...because almost all of them are chocolate! Well done, Diana! I would like to grab this cookies as my tidbits!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am craving for good chocolate cookies recently but must control, too fat already lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Jess - We do an exchange? Your chiffons looks really so good!

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  4. Hi Diana,

    I don't really know Robert Paul but I really like what he said about chocolate... LOL!

    Pass me some of these cookies, please!!!!!

    Zoe

    ReplyDelete
  5. Diana, what can I say except yum, yum, yum! Cannot resist chocolate cookies at all. If I make a batch, I will keep munching and munching until either I can eat anymore or there is none left. LOL! And thanks for the tip on chilling the dough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh dear Phong Hong, I like to make cookies but i don't eat them often. You want? :P

      Delete
  6. Hi! I love reading your blog and looking at the delish food you whip up!

    Would like to check with you on the ingredients, when you say you reduced an ingredient by a certain amount, you have already reduced it as shown or we should reduce that amount that is stated?

    Hope i'm being clear. =P

    Tks! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hey Linda, i always post the original recipe and state my own changes in red. Hope that helps!

      Delete