Viennese Chocolate Pepper Cookies |
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Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 4 Minutes |
Ready In: 24 Minutes Servings: 12 |
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Put these thin little chocolate cookies on your holiday platter & let tasters be surprised, very surprised. The black pepper and allspice gives unexpected snap. Found in The Washington Post, adapted from The Ultimate Chocolate Cookie Book, by Bruce Weinstein. Make the dough & chill - this allows you to bake when you want to, as many as you want at a time. Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour, plus additional for dusting the work surface |
3/4 cup cocoa powder, preferably dutch-process |
1 teaspoon baking powder |
1/4 teaspoon salt |
3/4 cup unsalted butter, cool, cut into small pieces (6 ounces) |
1 cup sugar |
1 1/4 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper |
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice |
1 large egg, at room temperature |
2 teaspoons vanilla extract |
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar |
Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt until well combined. Set aside.
2. Using a stand mixer on medium speed, soften the butter, about 1 minute. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, if still a little gritty, about 2 minutes. Beat in 3/4 teaspoon of the pepper and the allspice. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and stir in the flour mixture, just until combined.
3. Lightly dust the work surface with flour and turn the dough onto it. Roll gently into a 9-inch log, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.
4. Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat liner.
5. Slice the log into 1/4-inch-thick pieces and place them about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 6 minutes, then rotate the baking sheets top to bottom and front to back. Bake for about 6 more minutes, or until the cookies are slightly puffed and the tops feel springy. Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer the cookies to racks to cool completely.
6. In a small bowl, mix the confectioners' sugar with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. After all of the cookies are cooled, sift the sugar-pepper mixture over the cookies through a fine-mesh strainer. Store in an airtight container at room temperature between layers of wax paper for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
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