Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies are a delectable journey of indulgence. The velvety embrace of rich, buttery shortbread perfectly complement the intensity of dark chocolate. Whether you’re treating yourself to a solo escape or sharing these decadent delights with loved ones, these cookies redefine the art of sweet satisfaction.
Elevate your cookie experience with the perfect combination of sophistication and scrumptiousness that only Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies can deliver.
I’ve launched my fifth menu at Italian by Night. I think that it is the best to date. I get the biggest kick out of our servers each time a new menu is introduced . They stand quietly watching me plate each new dish and when it is finished they gasp a little. It’s adorable!
My dessert on the Christmas menu is a spin on tartufo. Liz has been after me for a while to put it on the menu. I resisted until now. The dessert is really a giant profiterole served with candy cane ice cream and hot fudge sauce. I wanted a warm chocolate coating instead of the hard coating on a classic tartufo.
Near the end of the evening our three servers ordered one to split. As I looked over at them watching me prepare their treat, they reminded me of three baby birds. Each one of them completely absorbed in their thoughts of pouncing on the candy cane ice cream smothered in warm chocolate fudge sauce. They devoured their ‘tartufu di Natale’ and proclaimed it the best dessert to date. I realized at that moment one of the things that I love most about working at the restaurant is spending time with young women around the age of my girls. I enjoy their banter, their curiosity for life and their generous attitudes. It fills me up!
At home I am starting to prepare for our Christmas party. When we were in New York last week, I picked up some Bensdorp cocoa at Dean and Delucca. Some girls buy clothes and baubles when they travel, I buy food! The lovely large squatty tin canister was irresistible!
I wanted to try the cocoa so I started my party prep with a dark chocolate shortbread cookies.
I have a clay pottery shortbread mold that I use for Ralph’s Christmas shortbread. He has his own cookie tin full to the top which he does not share. It has something to do with growing up in a family of seven! The pattern is lovely and the clay produces a perfectly baked cookie.
Cut the cookie into eight pieces after it is baked and partially cooled.
Thanks for reading.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons best quality cocoa
- 1/2 cup icing powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325*F
- Whip the butter - using your stand mixer or a hand mixer
- Add icing sugar, cocoa and vanilla - beat well
- Add flour - if you have a stand mixer blend flour until completely incorporated and batter pulls away from the bowl. You can also knead the flour in by hand until the dough is smooth.
- Spray cookie mold lightly with a non stick spray.
- Press dough into the mold using the heel of your hand so that the dough has a smooth look
- Prick the entire surface with a fork
- Place in upper third of oven and bake for 30 minutes
- Remove from oven to a cooling rack. Allow to cool in the mold for 10 minutes
- Loosen edges with a butter knife then invert onto a cutting board
- Using a sharp knife, cut the shortbread into cookies following the pattern of your mold or the size you would like to serve.
- Place the cookies back on cooling rack to cool completely
- Store in a well sealed container for up to 3 weeks or freeze until needed
Notes
THE LOVE: I make more than one batch at a time but I only have one shortbread mold. It's critical to allow the mold to cool completely between batches so that your dough does not start melting while you are pushing it into place. The mold does not need to be cleaned between batches.
