Sunday, October 3, 2010

Experimental Baking

My favorite cookie, Barbara Bush's Cowboy Cookies has a new sibling.  Midway into mixing a batch of Mrs. Bush's recipe I realized I was fresh out of oatmeal.  In a pinch and much too late for an oatmeal run, the decision was made to omit the grain at an attempt for something new.  With that, I left the nuts out as well but then went to add the chocolate chips and only sourced half of what I needed.  I decided it needed another ingredient as a replacement and to boost the chocolate flavor.  Cocoa powder!  Not only would it transform the flavor but completely transform the cookie aesthetically.  Success.  They baked flat and once cooled become a chewy chocolaty disc.  A little dusting of confectioners sugar completed the transformation.  And the cinnamon inside remains a complete surprise!


COW CHIP COOKIES

3 cups flour
1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
1 Tbsp. Baking Soda
1 Tbsp. Cinnamon
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. salt

3 sticks butter, softened
1.5 cups sugar
1.5 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
1 Tbsp. pure vanilla

1.5 cups chocolate chips
2 cups coconut

Confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix dry ingredients (first 6 ingredients) in a bowl.  Next, cream butter until smooth.  Add sugar, then eggs and vanilla.  Mix until smooth and creamy.  Slowly add dry ingredients.  Mix well.  

Mix in chocolate chips and coconut.  Drop 1.5" balls onto cookie sheet.  Slightly press with heal off palm.  Bake for 10-12 minutes rotating half way through.  Let cool for several minutes then transfer to cooling rack.  Dust with confectioners sugar once cooled.