photography by: Nicholette von Reiche
Even Santa won't be able to resist these home-baked cookies. I bake over-sized cookies for gifts and smaller ones to keep on hand when visitors come over.
Makes: 15-20 cookies
Preparation: 10-15 minutes
Baking: 10-12 minutes
4 oz (120g) dark chocolate, chopped
1 stick (110g) unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup plain flour
¼ cup cocoa
2 tsp coffee powder (omit for kids if preferred)
½ tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
10 oz (280g) dark chocolate, roughly chopped
3 oz (85g) candy canes
Preheat oven to 320°F (160 °C). Line and grease baking trays with non-stick baking paper.
Melt the 4oz chocolate either in a bowl over hot water, or in a microwave. Set aside.
Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric beater until light and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and combine well.
Sieve together the flour, cocoa, coffee, baking soda and salt over the butter mixture.
Combine well and add the melted chocolate. Combine and add the rest of the chopped chocolate.
Spoon tablespoonfuls of the mixture onto the greased and lined baking trays, allowing sufficient room for spreading.
Place the candy canes in a plastic packet and use a rolling pin to crush the candy.
Flatten the cookies slightly and press crushed candy cane pieces on top of each cookie.
Bake for 10 – 12 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking trays for about 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Cooks tip:
One of the prerequisites of making these cookies is that you have to enjoy a cookie while it is still warm and gooey.
Gift guide:
Wrap cookies in plastic packets and tie with a ribbon and a personalised message. Stack and wrap 3-4 cookies in hand-made paper and tie together with a golden thread. You can also pile cookies in between white or silver tissue paper into cake tins.
Kid-friendly:
Santa’s little helpers can definitely lend a hand with these enchanting cookies.
Variations:
Triple chocolate cookies:
Replace the candy canes with white chocolate chips.
Hazelnut and chocolate cookies:
Omit the candy canes and add some chopped and roasted hazelnuts to your mixture.