Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Chocolate Fudge Cookies with Toffee and Dried Cherries






Kate from The Clean Plate Club runs a monthly Cookie Carnival. It's fun - cookies are quick to make and fun to eat.
This month's cookie is the CHOCOLATE FUDGE COOKIES with TOFFEE and DRIED CHERRIES from the awesome Regan Daley. The toffee part sold me right away. Do these not look totally outrageous (in a completely good way). They are really quite something - absolutely delicious.

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened dutch-process cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup tightly packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup plump, moist, dried sour cherries
8 oz. bitter or semisweet chocolate chopped into chunks about the size of the cherries (I used bittersweet chocolate chips)
1 cup English toffee pieces for baking such as Skor Bits

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two heavy baking sheets, not non-stick with parchment paper and set aside. Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt together in a bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and both sugars until light in colour and fluffy - about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the vanilla. Stir in the flour-mixture in 3 additions, blending just until the dry ingredients are moistened. This part is really easier with a wooden spoon since the batter is quite dense. The dough may be frozen at this point for up to 4 months; wrap securely in plastic wrap, then in a plastic freezer bag; thaw in the refrigerator without removing its wrapping before portioning the cookies and baking.

2. Drop the batter by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets and place them in the centre of the oven, turning half way through baking.

3. Bake the cookies for 15-18 minutes (mine were done in 18 minutes) or until barely set in the centre and just firm around the edges. Cool cookies on tray for 3-5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before storing. Store in air tight containers, layered between sheets of parchment or waxed paper for up to 5 days.



Verdict: Fantastic cookies. I love the 3rd part about storing - you won't need to worry about storing anything - they'll be gone before the day is out. My neighbours could smell them down the hall and came over to see what was in the oven and how soon they could have some. StumbleUpon

28 comments:

kat said...

Now I know what to do with that big bag of dried cherries I have!

What's Cookin Chicago said...

Looks delicious and I love the combo of chocolate and cherries... the toffee is a nice twist!

Anonymous said...

They wouldn't last two minutes in our house!

Anonymous said...

I think the only thing I like chocolate combo I like better than toffee is cherries! These look perfect, I am definitely saving them.

Dewi said...

What a combination! Toffee and dried cherries nothing will beat this.
Cheers,
Elra

OhioMom said...

I am not going to look, nope not even a peek at these cookies .. I am trying to be good and you are not helping me with my resolve to give up sweets for just a little bit :)

That Girl said...

I had the most fantastic dessert a couple weeks back with dried sour cherries - just reading this post brings me back and makes my mouth water!

grace said...

you're right on top of things, giz! i just printed the recipe a few minutes ago and i'm looking forward to making it. chocolate, cherries, and toffee make a masterful combination. :)

Beth (jamandcream) said...

I bet the dried cherries make these. They look so good

Ivy said...

I saw these cookies around Christmas and even bought the toffees to make them but they'll have to wait for a while as I am trying hard to avoid sweets.

The Peanut Butter Boy said...

Anything with toffee is a winner with me. Sorta like a cookie version of those Skor candy bars!

Peter M said...

These cookies complete me er...are complete with the Skor bits...seconds?

Bunny said...

Oh do these look good, I love chocolate cookies, put anything you want in them and I'll eat them.

Bunny said...

Oh do these look good, I love chocolate cookies, put anything you want in them and I'll eat them.

Deeba PAB said...

Yum yum...I love the combo! My kids would go crazy with these!!

Hopie said...

Wow those look like fantastic cookies. I love toffee (er, and chocolate...and cherries). Stuff about storing cookies always cracks me up! Who stores cookies?? I guess if you make A LOT? Even so... Everyone loves to eat them.

Mimi Lenox said...

This is my first time here. Why are your feet hanging over a cliff???!!!

test it comm said...

Those cookies look great! I like the sound of using dried cheeries in cookies.

Anonymous said...

oooh, i'm a total cookie monster. i'll have to try these out to add them to my repertoire!

Anonymous said...

These sound like just too much decadence in one place! I'm sure I'd eat half the batch myself ;)

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I am positive these would ship well Giz:D

Rosie said...

Those cookies look delicious and I love the combo of chocolate, cherries & toffee..

Rosie x

Anonymous said...

wow this is definitely my type of cookie!

Lori said...

yum. those look so good. I must turn my head now because I would have to eat too many if I made them.

Jeanne said...

Oh my... chocolate and cherry in a cookie seems like my idea of pure heaven. Thanks for sharing!

Amanda said...

These look great! I haven't made mine yet :)

Anonymous said...

This sounds like the perfect valentine's day cookie. Mmm chocolate.

Jin Hooi said...

Agree !! the cookies are delicious !!! I tried this today and love them !!!

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