Monday, October 31, 2011

Salted Chocolate Shortbread Cookies






I have less than 4 weeks left until my due date and my sweet cravings are in full effect.  I'm definitely starting to get a bit uncomfortable and sugar cures everything, right?  I've always loved traditional shortbread cookies so I decided to try making a chocolate version and they were glorious.  The mixture of salty and sweet was perfectly balanced and my only complaint was that I couldn't stop eating them.  


1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons (11 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup light brown sugar
¼ granulated sugar
½ teaspoon fleur de sel or ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, plus extra for sprinkling
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Whisk together the flour, cocoa and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside.
2. Beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add both sugars, the salt and vanilla extract and beat for 2 minutes more.
3. With the mixer off, add the dry ingredients. Turn the mixer on and off low speed (pulse) for a second or two about 5 times so that the flour mixture gets incorporated. Then mix on low speed for about 30 seconds, just until the flour disappears into the dough (the dough will look crumbly).
4. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and divide it in two. Shape each half into a 9-inch log. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. If you’ve frozen the dough, you don’t need to defrost before baking – just slice the logs into cookies and baking the cookies 1 minute longer.)
5. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.
6. Using a sharp thin knife, slice the logs into rounds that are ½-inch thick. Arrange the rounds on the baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them. Sprinkle a small amount of extra salt on top of each round.
7. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 12 minutes – they won’t look done, and won’t be firm, but that’s how they should be. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies rest until they are only just warm, at which point you can serve them or let them reach room temperature. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.

24 comments:

Thelma Frayne said...

Salted. Chocolate. Shortbread. Cookies. 4 of my favourite words together :)

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

I can't wait to make these. I love cookies you can freeze and bake, and I LOVE salty/sweet combos!

Josie said...

Yummmm! These look absolutely delectable. I'm so into salted desserts right now; I love that they satisfy both cravings at once!
xo Josie
www.winksmilestyle.com

this free bird said...

oh lordy. step aside. i feel a stampede into the kitchen coming on.

Sarah said...

I might need to make these tonight! I would rather be eating them than all the Halloween candy.

Sarah B. said...

I want to eat those cookies right now! They look SO delicious! Gabe is surely enjoying your sweet tooth cravings! :)

Unknown said...

Oh my word. These look delicious!! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!!

erica said...

Oh my word how wonderful do these sound! I will definitely have to give this recipe a try! xo

Definingtabitha said...

Oh my goodness those look so delish!

Marisa A. said...

Those look amaaazzzingg! And I wanted something new to bake this weekend with the girls. Now I have it!

Grace said...

i think my tummy just begged for some cookies. this look sinful. definitely a great weekend try.

Jess said...

Less than 4 weeks?! That's so exciting! Good luck (is that what you tell a pregnant woman?!) hahahah

Kristina said...

Yum, yum good!

Gabriel said...

These cookies are AWESOME! Highly reccomended with a glass of cold milk for dunking! When can I have some more?

Vanisha @ Vanisha's Life In...Australia said...

These look scrumptious! I'm new to your blog and just looking at your recipes I'm hooked!

kate said...

Oooo, I've never had chocolate shortbread! I love this!
velvetcupcakes

Sierra said...

Oh my goodness those look so yummy!

Hope you have a great weekend love, I'm having a business card giveaway if you want to enter: http://www.oceandreams4sierra.com/2011/11/uprintingcom-business-cards-giveaway.html

Marcie said...

I know your due date is almost here. Thinking of you and can't wait to hear the good news!

Mimi said...

i loooove shortbread and i looove chocolate! i definitely have to give this recipe a try, thanks for sharing! :)

<3, Mimi
http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/
$100 Shopbop Gift Card Giveaway

devorelebeaumonstre. said...

nice!

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Annie said...

just wanted to say hi and I hope everything is going well! :)

Unknown said...

woooww I want try!!! hungry hungry hungry!!

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She Wore It Well said...

im guessing the baby has arrived! updates pls x

World of Animals, Inc said...

Thanks for sharing these delicious looking cookies. These look like they would be perfect for our next office party. We hope you're having a wonderful start to the New Year.
World of Animals