quarter pound double chocolate cookies

Quarter pound cookie. Let's just look at that one sentence. A chocolate cookie that weighs a quarter pound. Seriously. Filled with cocoa powder, dark chocolate chips, butter, a touch of cinnamon, sugar, a touch of salt, a hint of cream, and then dipped in warm ganache. That's food porn. One bite, ok three bites of this cookie and my chocolate craving was satisfied. I have to tell you these cookies were fun to create. What do they taste like? A moister, super rich, dense scone with texture and a long lingering chocolate essence. They are really thick and really rich--super rich actually. Why did I make them so big? I have an obsession with giant cookies. That's it. I'm addicted to chocolate. No, I have an obsession with giant sized chocolate cookies. And a small obsession with levain bakery. I know I'm not supposed to swear on my food blog and all that crap, but trust me one bite of these cookies and you will say holy shazammmm--that's a *(#&^% good cookie!
As you see in the next picture the cookie sheet is 18 x 13 inches and it holds only eight cookies. I was going to put a paper clip on the cookie sheet so you could see size difference, but then someone might be like 'why is that girl putting paper clips next to her cookies?'
My giant cookies were featured in the la times, how cool is that? Thanks la times!

quarter pound double chocolate cookies
loosely based on levain bakery
print recipe

2 and ¾ sticks of room temp unsalted butter
¾ cup granulated white sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 TB half & half (or cream)
1 ½ ts pure vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose flour
½ cup + 2 TB cocoa powder
½ ts cinnamon
Oversized ¾ ts sea salt
1 and ½ ts baking powder
½ ts baking soda
2 cups (60% or higher cocoa) dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, or by hand beat butter and both sugars just until creamy. Don’t overbeat. Add in the eggs, vanilla, and half & half and beat just until incorporated.
In another bowl mix the flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. When thoroughly mixed, add to batter and stir just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
Keep in mind this dough is very hard and thick. I like to chill my dough for at least 3 hours before using.
Divide dough into 12 big 4 oz lumps. Mold into HUGE golfballs; do not press flat! Keep them as balls on the cookie sheets. Bake on ungreased cookies sheets (one sheet at a time).
Put the cookies in a 365 degree oven for about 12 minutes, rotate pan, then bake another 8-10 minutes OR until the cookies are just set. It will be hard to tell when the cookies are done. Recipe by dawn finicane. Look for crackles on side, cooked tops and semi-firm; they should be a bit soft in the middle. Don’t overbake or they will turn into scones. Once baked don’t try and move the cookies off the pan, they will break apart, let them chill a bit before touching.
Once they are completely cooled, dip the tops in melted dark chocolate (or milk chocolate). Makes 12 giant cookies.

buffalo chicken pizza w/ blue cheese

Not just any pizza but buffalo chicken pizza with monterey jack cheese, bermuda onions and blue cheese. Seriously this was so good I ate the leftovers cold right from the fridge. I love buffalo chicken but hate wings. I'm just not into all that bones and stuff, really not a wing girl. But the stuff, the sauce that's actually on the buffalo chicken wings is something I love. That buttery, hot, sticky sauce with a bite? Oh yes please, may I have seconds with extra hot sauce and use the blue cheese to chill down the hot snap is all kinds of craziness going on in the mouth fun.
So that is what inspired me to create this in pizza form. You know all the goodness of that buffalo chicken sauce, and the blue cheese, all on top of a crispy pizza. You just can't get good pizza like this at a pizza joint--well maybe, in NYC.
(sorry for lack of more photos; hungry people in house ate pizza faster than I could photograph)

buffalo chicken pizza w/ blue cheese
print recipe

To make:
Bake a couple chicken breasts that are well coated with olive oil and salt & pepper in a 350 degree oven until done (about 30+ minutes?).

While chicken is cooling melt about 3-4 TB of butter with 1/4 cup of tabasco sauce (or franks hot sauce or whatever hot sauce you love). When chicken is cooled, break apart into large chunks, place in bowl and coat them with the hot sauce mixture.
Roll out pizza dough, put a thin layer of the hot sauce mixture on pizza dough, then top with a thin layer of monterey jack cheese (or whatever you like), then the coated chicken, then crumble some blue cheese over the pizza, and top with thin shreds of bermuda onion. (I also like to put a few extra onions, raw, on the pizza when it just comes out of the oven). You could also top this with some fresh chives when it just comes out of the oven.
Before it goes in the oven take a little bit of olive oil and lightly brush the outside of the pizza, then sprinkle same edges with a little bit of onion powder and some salt & pepper.
Bake in a 450/500 degree oven till nice and crisp (mine takes but 20 minutes to bake, but I like mine well done).

Cook Notes: I used the whole grain pizza dough from whole foods it really is the best and you can't even tell it's good for you ha!. Use really good, moldy blue cheese, you can tell it's really good if there is a lot of blue in the middle. Do try the trick of olive oiling the edges of the pizza & seasoning just before baking, it really brings a nice tasty crust.

giveaway time!

It's about that time for.....a giveaway! Long overdue people. I was unsure of what to giveaway--wanted something good, really good you know? Something that really spoke to you, spoke to me and said 'thank you for being such wonderful, dedicated fans over the years'. Since I know you all are foodies and all love to cook, what better gift to give than $50.00 a gift certificate to Williams Sonoma. Yes, you read right $50.00. I mean if you're going to have a giveaway have a giveaway, right? Oh yes indeedy. And what's best? It's easy to enter. All you need to do is:

- leave a comment on this post telling me what you would like to see Vanilla Sugar 'make or kick up a notch' (tell me as much as your heart desires)

- make sure you're a fan of the Vanilla Sugar Facebook page.

- and if you want to tweet about this giveaway that's good too, but I won't enforce it.

On Friday May 7, 2010 I'll select a random number using the random generator to see who will win. For obvious reasons, anonymous comments don't qualify--please make sure your name, email and/or website are visible in your comment. Good luck and happy cooking!

The above cupcake is my sweet potato & vanilla bean cupcake featured here.

carrot cake w/ cream cheese filling and white chocolate ganache

I wonder if anyone will read this post. I mean the photos kind of really speak for themselves without having to say anything. But I want to mention the thought process for this one, or rather the creation for this is from it's brother the pb chocolate cake w/ chunky pb cheese filling and chocolate ganache. Ever since I made that one I've always wanted to make a white version. When I say white version I mean a white chocolate ganache. Can't recall that I've ever seen anyone make a white chocolate ganache before--I'm sure someone has and I've wanted to as well. Keep in mind if you do make this, the white chocolate ganache is a frisky, impatient little one. It needs constant stirring and monitoring; it's not that easy to get the right consistency like its dark chocolate brother. But once I did get it right it really was fun to watch it 'slowly' pour down the cake because it is REALLY thick and really slow to move. Almost like a melted fondant.





carrot cake w/ cream cheese filling & white chocolate ganache
cake & filling adapted from America’s Test Kitchen
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cook notes: If you like nuts in your cake, stir 1 1/2 cups toasted chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter along with the carrots. Raisins are also a good addition; 1 cup can be added along with the carrots. If you add both nuts and raisins, the cake will need an additional 10 to 12 minutes in the oven.

carrot cake
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (12 1/2 ounces)
1 1/4 ts baking powder
1 ts baking soda
1 1/4 ts ground cinnamon
1/2 ts ground nutmeg
1/8 ts ground cloves
1/2 ts table salt
1 pound medium carrots (6 to 7 carrots), peeled
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil , or canola oil

cream cheese filling (I halved all this as I only needed it for the filling)
8 ounces cream cheese , softened but still cool
5 TB unsalted butter softened, but still cool
1 TB sour cream
1/2 ts vanilla extract (I did not add this in)
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar (I sifted mine)
(I added in a large pinch of salt)
(I added in a handful of toasted coconut to this and chopped/toasted pecans)

For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13 by 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment and spray parchment. (I did two regular cake pans)

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in large bowl; set aside.
In food processor fitted with large shredding disk (see below for mixer method), shred carrots (you should have about 3 cups); transfer carrots to bowl and set aside. Wipe out food processor workbowl and fit with metal blade. Process granulated and brown sugars and eggs until frothy and thoroughly combined, about 20 seconds. With machine running, add oil through feed tube in steady stream. Process until mixture is light in color and well emulsified, about 20 seconds longer. Scrape mixture into medium bowl. Stir in carrots and dry ingredients until incorporated and no streaks of flour remain. Pour into prepared pan and bake until toothpick or skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking time. Cool cake to room temperature in pan on wire rack, about 2 hours.

For the frosting (See below for mixer method): When cake is cool, process cream cheese, butter, sour cream, vanilla, and salt in clean food processor workbowl until combined, about 5 seconds, scraping down bowl with rubber spatula as needed. Add SIFTED confectioners' sugar and process until smooth, about 10 seconds. Then add in the toasted coconut and chopped pecans and stir.

Run paring knife around edge of cake to loosen from pan. Invert cakes onto wire rack, peel off parchment, then invert again onto serving platter. Using icing spatula, spread frosting evenly over surface of cake. Cut into squares and serve. (Cover leftovers and refrigerate for up to 3 days.) (So, I spread frosting in between the two cakes nice and thick since I was going to put a white chocolate ganache on the top. Do what you like at this point use the frosting all over or just in the middle. There was a good amount of frosting left over, so I just went ahead and froze the rest)

MIXER METHOD
Instead of Step 3 above, follow these directions: Shred carrots using large holes of box grater (you should have about 3 cups); transfer carrots to bowl and set aside. In bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment (or in large bowl and using hand-held mixer), beat granulated and brown sugars and eggs on medium-high until thoroughly combined, about 45 seconds. Reduce speed to medium; with mixer running, add oil in slow, steady stream, being careful to pour oil against inside of bowl (if oil begins to splatter, reduce speed to low until oil is incorporated, then resume adding oil). Increase speed to high and mix until mixture is light in color and well emulsified, about 45 seconds to 1 minute longer. Turn off mixer and stir in carrots and dry ingredients by hand until incorporated and no streaks of flour remain. Pour into prepared pan and bake until toothpick or skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking time. Cool cake to room temperature in pan on wire rack, about 2 hours.

Instead of Step 4 above, follow these directions: When cake is cool, mix cream cheese, butter, sour cream, and vanilla at medium high speed in clean bowl of standing mixer fitted with whisk attachment ( or in large bowl using handheld mixer) until well combined, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl with rubber spatula as needed. Add confectioners’ sugar and mix until very fluffy, about 1 minute.

Once the cakes were frosted in the middle I went ahead and let it chill in the fridge while I made the white chocolate Ganache and made some toasted coconut.

You can toast about ½ cup of moist coconut in the over at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until JUST brown. Set aside.

white chocolate ganache

a small saucepan or double boiler
14 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped
½ cup heavy cream
½ tsp vanilla extract
1-2 TB butter

Melt white chocolate, heavy cream, and extract over a double boiler. Do not boil. You need to stir this A LOT. It will take a long time before it gets to a thick consistency.
Now if you want a little bit of shine to your Ganache add some butter into it just after you take it off the heat. When it’s melted then add butter and take off heat immediately. Stir to combine butter completely. Keep stirring. And stirring. I like to let my Ganache sit a bit before using; the longer it sits the thicker it gets.

assemble
Take the cake out of the fridge and gently pour on the white chocolate ganache. It should flow freely on it’s own or you can give it a little help with a wet spatula. This ganache is a lot thicker and slower to spread then it’s dark chocolate brother. So be patient with it and see how it flows. While the ganache is still at the soft stage make sure to add the toasted coconut on top before it hardens--optional of course.

Let ganache set up before slicing into it. When you are ready to slice into it, make sure to use a very sharp knife as this Ganache is thick and harder to cut.

espresso-cream cheese rice krispie treats

Yes indeed another espresso recipe, but I don't think you are going to mind back to back espresso recipes as this is one kicked up treat. I've taken the rice krispie treat added some cream cheese, espresso, toffee bits and a few other things. How many of you out there are coffee junkies? I am too and I just love finding new ways to use espresso in baked goods, and yes we can also say savory goods because espresso is used in sauces isn't it? Can I tell you these treats were absolutely fabulous. If you do make this, be prepared to eat it all. The combination of the espresso with the cream cheese with the added layer of toffee bits will make you keep going back for another bite, then another, and then another, then you wrap it all up and put it all away vowing NOT to eat another bite. But then five minutes later there you are unwrapping the plastic wrap to 'just have a small bite'. Am I right?
As a side note: I don't know if young kids should eat this because of the espresso in it, but you can use your own judgement. I highly doubt you'll want to share anyways.....



espresso-cream cheese rice krispie treats
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3 TB salted butter
4 oz. cream cheese, room temp
2 Starbuck Via’s (the medium one)
A good size pinch of sea salt
10 or 11 ounce bag of mini marshmallows
8 ounce bag of chopped toffee bits (1 cup used in bars, remainder used for sprinkling on top)
6 and 1/2 cups rice krispies

Spray a 13 x 9-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
In a very large 6 or 8 qt. pan, melt the butter and cream cheese over low heat (low heat, do not let the cream cheese burn or cook!). For these next steps, please work fast. Once melted add in both the starbuck via’s, then a good sized pinch of sea salt, stir. Using a rubber spatula immediately add in the marshmallows—all the while keep an eye on the bottom of the pan, don’t let it burn! Ok to take pan off heat for a bit if needed. Once marshmallows are added just keep stirring until melted; you will be stirring a lot. After its melted take off the heat, add in the 1 cup of toffee bits, quick stir, and then add in the Rice Krispies until well combined.
This is when you have to work fast and stir until well combined; making sure to get the bottom well combined as well. (recipe by dawn finicane) Once all mixed then transfer mix to your prepared pan and push down into pan with spatula or water-wet hands. After it’s all smoothed over this is when I like to add a small sprinkling of sea salt to the top, then the rest of the toffee bits. (you might have to push the toffee bits down into mixture to make them stay in place. Place in fridge to set and cool. They need to cool completely before cutting. You will need a very sharp knife to cut these into bars.

Cut into bars or squares with a sharp knife. Depending on how you cut them they should make about 15-20 bars.