Killer Chocolate Cookies

Firstly let me apologise for the poor picture quality, my husband dropped my camera and now it won't turn on, so I had to take it on my webcam!! It's my birthday in 3 weeks, I'd better be getting something black and clicky! (take note hubby!!)

I've always wanted to be able to make those scrummy melt-in-the-mouth chocolate cookies they bake in the supermarkets. Now, thanks to a domestic goddess, I can!! WOO HOO!!

Recipe adapted from Nigella Lawson's "Totally Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies" click here for Nigella's recipe and instructions.

Ingredients

125g dark chocolate

150g plain flour
30g cocoa powder (sieved)
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
125g soft butter
45g Dark Brown soft sugar
80g white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 medium egg (cold from the fridge)
100g dark chocolate chips 
100g milk chocolate chips
100g white chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3. 
2. Melt the dark chocolate either in the microwave or in a heatproof dish over a pan of simmering water.
3. Put the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl.
4. Cream the butter and sugars in another bowl.  
5. Add the melted chocolate and mix together.
6. Beat in the vanilla extract and cold egg, and then mix in the dry ingredients. 
7. Finally stir in the chocolate morsels or chips.
8. Scoop out 12 equal-sized mounds ~ I used an ice-cream scoop as advised by Ms Lawson.
9. Place on a lined baking sheet about 6cm apart. DO NOT FLATTEN THEM.
10. Cook for 20-25 minutes, testing with a cake tester to make sure it comes out semi-clean and not wet with cake batter. If you pierce a chocolate chip, try again.
11. Leave to cool slightly on the baking sheet for 4-5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to harden as they cool.

These cookies are exactly what I've been aspiring to for years and now I have the know-how. I'm soo excited!!! So are the family.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we have. 

xx Kat xx

Tiffin ~ My Way

I've been trawling my fave blogs for some challenges, I love it when my treats appear on other peoples sites......makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :-)

One of my favourites is the Alphabakes Challenge hosted each moth by The More Than Occasional Baker & Caroline Makes. This months host is the lovely Ros of The More Than Occasional Baker. The aim of the game is to make something with a name or main ingredient beginning with the letter for the month, the letter is chosen at random. This month the letter T.

I did a tea cupcake last month and couldn't really think of any other ingredients beginning with "T"!!

I blame baby brain for that one!!

Eventually I decided on Tiffin.

Who doesn't like Tiffin.......right?

I've never made Tiffin before, my mum used to make Hollywood cake which is basically the same thing but without bourbons and with cherries and a chocolate layer on top. I liked it but not the cherries or the extra choc on top. So I changed it up a bit....hope you don't mind!!

My Recipe
250g unsalted butter
250g digestive biscuits
100g bourbon biscuits
200g plain chocolate
50g milk chocolate
100g sultanas
2 1/2 tbsp golden syrup

1. In a bowl Crush all the biscuits until you have a sandy texture, you must still have some chunks no bigger than your thumb nail. (I used my rolling pin)
2. In a separate, microwaveable, bowl melt the butter, chocolate and syrup together in 30 second bursts. Mix after each time until you get a lovely smooth chocolate sauce. 
3. Add the sultanas to the biscuits and mix well until evenly distributed.
4. Add the chocolate to the dry mix and stir until everything is covered.
5. Pour/scrape into your LINED tin (I used a square 18 inch tin).
6. Pop in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours to firm up.

You should have seen the chaos as my boys climbed all over each other to get to the bowl and spatula!! I tried some and it's actually ridiculously yummy straight from the bowl!! NOM NOM NOM
When the Tiffin is set use a super sharp knife to cut it into squares (as big or as small as you'd like).

I'm also entering this treat into the Zero Baking Required challenge hosted by Maison Cupcake in which all us bloggers have to make something yummy that cannot see the inside of an oven. This is a great challenge for me as I am moving soon and want to use Mr Oven as little as possible. Needs a darn good clean TBH!!

This is a recipe you just HAVE to try, I guarantee you'll like it as much as I do!!! My hubby and kids barely got a look in!! :-)

ENJOY

xx Kat xx