Earl-Grey Infused Chocolate Chip Almond Cookies

I know. The name's a mouthful. A yummy mouthful.

Sorry the pictures are a bit awful. I swear the cookies aren't.
My baking girl in cahoots, Nina, helped me make these cookies for the Food Blogger Great Cookie Swap 2012.
Let me start at the beginning. The cookie swap is this genius idea hosted by Love & Olive Oil and Little Kitchen that goes like this: there are a ton of people who love to bake and who do it pretty well. These people love to eat and they love to feed others. How about we start a swap where once a year we connect these people and they can send each other cookies? In boxes? Using the postal service! (Well, at least that's how I imagine the idea came about. I dunno.) It makes a lot of sense, and even more once you start receiving cookies from across the country and they are so. Good. Because we bloggers want to impress each other so we go all out. Everyone sends one dozen cookies each to three people, and in return receives a dozen each from three different people. I got pumpkin-filled gingersnaps, double chocolate cherry, and chai-spiced gingerbread men. So. Happy.
I've been looking forward to doing this swap since last year, when I found out about it after the recipes from the 2011 swap were posted and I wished I had known about it a month before so I could participate. When I was finally sent my matches this year, I began to think: what cookie could I really knock 'em out with? Then I began to think about Rubyzaar. In New York City, we love a good flea market. Even more than a flea market, we love us a bazaar. Sounds like some exotic, very limited-edition, one-of-a-kind, locally sourced goodness. Where am I going here? The Union Square Holiday Market.

 

Once a year, UrbanSpace sets up red and white tents all over the until-recently-occupied-by-Occupiers space we all go to on Friday night. By we, I mean every nyc-public-high-schooler, and then some. I often take out-of-towners my age here, because it has so many amusements and it is so nearby many other cool neighborhoods: St. Mark's Place and the Lower East Side, Soho, Bryant Park (ice-skating in the winter!). Acually, Bryant park isn't so nearby. But it isn't too far away either. Nor is Chinatown, or the Theater and Fashion Districts. Each neighborhood leads to the next, and if you're with me, then you end up walking a lot before you know it, because there's this little place that sells only pudding ten blocks over, and just a couple blocks more, and we can go to this tiny spot that sells only belgian fries and, like, 50 dipping sauces! Oh, and there's that awesome dumpling place a couple avenues up! I like to think that all that walking burns off the food, but we all know it's a lie. 

But I digress. So, for about a month in early winter, the Holiday Market sets up in union square and is filled with people selling scarves, puppets, hot chocolate, and these weird hand warmer pads that turn soft and warm from this electromagnetic shock thing. Actually pretty cool. And among the vendors are tucked many food places, the ins and outs of which I know quite intimately at this point. Every year, I wait for Rubyzaar. Rubyzaar is a clothing store actually, but once a year for the holiday market, they rent a big kitchen space and become Rubyzaar baked, and make really, really amazing cookies. Not only are they great and exotic (they reflect the different places Rubyzaar designers have been for their clothes) but they are rendered extra-special because they are only available once a year. But here's my sneaky bit: I found their menu online. And from those delicious descriptions, I figured I could make the cookies myself. So for the Cookie Swap, that's where I turned.

See in the middle, the ones called Kashmir? Like the Led Zep song? My favorite. Rubyzaar describes them as "smoked almonds, earl grey, + dark chocolate". I decided these would be The Chosen Ones. So how to get the earl grey flavor in? I've done some experimenting before (chai flavor abounds on this blog) but never gotten truly satisfactory results. Then I remembered a very intriguing post on the Cupcake Project about using butter to infuse tea flavor into baked goods. Bingo.

The rest was simple. Using a chocolate chip cookie recipe that called for melted butter, to a floury bowl poured some incredibly fragrant earl-grey golden liquid, some chopped almonds, and some dark chocolate, mixed, and baked. They were very, very good. We made them in Nina's house, and her parents were nearly dying because they couldn't eat the cookies. Luckily, we made enough that once we packaged and sent off three dozen, there was still a dozen and a half for my family and the same amount for her. My father was not as much a fan. "They're a little... weird," he said, "like really nice scented soap." Whatever. If you don't like bergamot, they're not for you. I ate a lot of them.

Lastly, we put a bit of New York touch into the packaging that I'm proud of. We went down the street, stopped into the nearest Chinese takeout place, and acquired three takeout boxes. We stuffed the cookies into these and then cushioned the boxes with crumpled New York Times business section. I hope my bloggers in Texas and Kansas appreciated that bit!

Oh, and a last note? You have a lot of leftover butter soaked tea leaves when you finish this recipe. Let them dry overnight, then crumble them with granulated sugar and you have earl-grey sugar. I'm not too sure what to do with it, but it sure looks fancy! Probably a good thing to put in a jar, tie with a bow, and give as a holiday gift.

Earl-Grey Infused Chocolate Chip Almond Cookies
inspired by Rubyzaar Kashmir Cookies. recipe adapted from AllRecipes and The Cupcake Project.
makes 2 dozen medium sized cookies.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter
10 earl grey tea teabags, or 10 tsps loose tea
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup turbinado or white sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups dark chocolate chips
3/4 cup roughly chopped unsalted almonds (smoked would be awesome!)

Preheat the oven to 325 ºF (165 ºC). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Mix together flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.
If tea is in teabags, remove it so that it is loose. In a small saucepan, melt the butter until just liquid, then add the tea leaves. Heat on low for about 5 minutes, or until butter darkens and there is a buttery tea smell pervading the kitchen. Remove from heat and let sit for at least 5 minutes, then strain through fine mesh. Don't worry if a couple tea pieces slip through. You will now have less butter than what you started with. Depending on how much less, you may want to add some milk to the dough later.

In a medium bowl, stir the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until all is liquid. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until mixture lightens. Mix in the dry ingredients until just blended. At this point, of the dough is too dry and won't come together, add a couple tablespoons of milk. Stir in the chocolate chips and almonds. 

Drop cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheets. They don't spread much so if you'd like them flatter rather than mounded, press each cookie gently down. 

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm but not brittle. Can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.

 Bonus picture! Here's a bad one of me, packing everything up with my signature silver duct tape. Because I know you're curious :)

Super Cookie Dough Cupcakes

What makes them so super, you will surely ask? Well. You have a dozen brown butter cupcakes, see? Like pumped up vanilla cupcakes: nuttier, buttery, comforting. Then, you cut a hole in the top of each one.

 

 Put a dollop of cookie dough on top (egg-free!).

 And then slather some cookie dough frosting all over that thang.

Don't forget the chocolate chip on top. I'd take that over a maraschino cherry any day.

Super Cookie Dough Cupcakes
1 dozen
adapted from the cupcake project

Brown Butter Cupcakes

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsps milk


Preheat oven to 400 F.
First, make the browned butter. Place butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until it turns a dark golden color, 3-5 minutes.
Take the pan off the heat and strain into a bowl (to separate from the burned bits).
Let the butter sit until it solidifies, but is still a little soft. (This can take 30 mins room temp; if in a hurry, put it in the fridge for 10 mins).
When ready, beat with sugar. In a separate bowl (I do this directly in the measuring cup), mix flour and baking powder. Add eggs and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture, then mix in the flour. Finally, add milk. If too dry, add a tablespoon or so more of milk.
Fill twelve cupcake liners and bake for 15-20 minutes, until a knife or toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Cookie Dough (for frosting and filling)

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted (or substitute canola oil for part or all)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 tbsps milk




Mix everything together.

To Assemble:
Cut a small cone out of the top of each cupcake, but inserting a knife and carving a circle out without moving the tip. These little pieces I suggest you eat to keep up your stamina in the coming back-breaking task (not!).

In each cavity, put a small ball of cookie dough, so that 1/4 of the dome rises above the surface of the cupcake.

For the frosting, thin one cup of the remaining cookie dough with 1/2 cup of cream (milk will do as well). Spread around cupcakes, leaving cookie ball uncovered in the middle.

Top with a chocolate chip and serve.

Peanut Butter Button Cookies

 When I say button I actually mean it. They look like actually buttons.

 Simple peanut butter cookie recipe. I will you save you from the fate of your cousins: no fork tines will scrape your back.

 As you can see, these cookies are pretty small. As uncooked balls they should fit inside a bottle cap.

 We're getting to the fun part. Just as the cookies come out of the oven, still warm, you have to make the buttons. Hurry, there's not a lot of time before they get too rigid and cool.

 How do you make the cute little button-ridge? That afore-mentioned bottle cap. Press it into the cookie. Perfect.

 Then the holes? It involves a straw. Bring it down and give the straw a smart turn. When you draw up, you should have left a neat hole for your button. This is fun for the first, oh, 100 holes. Then it starts to get sucky. Wait, did I mention? The cookie left from the button holes accumulate. What's really fun? Sucking them out of the straw. Like a pneumatic tube that ends in your mouth.

These make great gifts. Put them in a jar and tie with a ribbon. That's what I did. ANd the best thing about giving a gift of food? You often get to help eat them.

Peanut Butter Button Cookies
adapted from Bakerella and allrecipes
makes about 60 tiny buttons


note: bake these in about four batches. As you take one out, put the next in and start transforming the done batch into buttons. As you finish, the next batch should be ready. Be careful not to bake too many at one time, because they'll cool and harden before you're ready to work with them.

6 tbsps unsalted butter
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup turbinado sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsps baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs.
In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into batter. 

Optional: at this time, you can chill in the refrigerator for an hour to help combat spreading when they bake.
Roll into balls that will fit inside a soda cap and put on baking sheets.  

Bake for about 6-10 minutes or until cookies begin to brown. Do not over-bake.

While cookies are still warm and soft, press the soda top into each to make an indent in the middle,a nd then use a straw to poke four button holes for each cookie. Some will crack. Don't worry. Those are for eating while you work.

Happy World Nutella Day!

That's right. A day for savoring nutella. And no, it wasn't created by the franchise, but by two loyal bloggers six years ago, Ms. Adventures in Italy, and Bleeding Espresso. They designated february 5th the day of nutella, and have created a truly prodigious database of nutella recipes at nuttelladay.com  I have quite happily contributed.

 Nutella Crack Pie. Bam. It's called crack because it's so addicting, not, as my father so sweetly suggested, because it bears a similarity with a certain body part (not really seeing the connection). This is adapted from the fairly famous Crack Pie by Momofuku. I have heard oodles about it, but though I live but a couple miles walk from a Momofuku Milk Bar where I could purchase myself a slice, I have yet to do so. Now I must. To compare. And it will be hard to top my crack baby pie.

 It starts with oat cookies, which you crumbles and line a tart pan with.

 Then comes the nutella filling, fortified to custardy level with 6 egg yolks.

 Into a pan, close-up shot. Crack pie poses like a model.

 Out of the oven, and absolutely irresistible. Into my family's stomachs. Yum.

Nutella Crack Pie

adapted from show food chef

makes one large tart pan worth of thin pie (adjectives, much?)

Oat Cookie Pie Crust:

6 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

1 large egg

3/4 cup plus rolled oats

1/2 cup flour

1/8 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. baking soda

pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350F and line a large baking pan with parchment paper. 

Cream 4tbsp butter and sugars until fluffy. Add the egg and thoroughly beat in. Add the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and beat until well blended.

Spread oat mixture thinly out onto baking sheet and cook for 15 minutes until crisp. Keep the oven on.

While cookie is cooling, dice the remaining butter and add an extra 1 1/2 tbsps brown sugar into a bowl. crumble into pebbles with your fingers.

When the cookie is cool, break into crumbs and add to the bowl. Rub together with fingertips until crumb mixture is moist enough to hold together in a clump when squeezed in your hand. Spread mixture out into the pan and using press crumbs onto the bottom and sides to form a pie shell using the bottom of a glass to help press crumbs down. 

Nutella Custard Filling

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup Nutella

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 tsp. vanilla

6 egg yolks

In a mixing bowl, whisk together sugars and salt.

Whisk in Nutella, cream and vanilla.

Whisk in egg yolks and combine well.

Pour filling into pie shell, and bake for 15 minutes, then reduce oven temp. to 325F and continue to cook for about 15-20 minutes until center is not too jiggly.

Cool on a rack, then keep in fridge for a couple hours. This is at its best when served chilled.

Top with powdered sugar if you wish.

Happy World Nutella Day!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Ginger Cookies

 Hmmm, what shall I say? It's getting wintery out. December 3rd already. And while iced chai tea lattes are splendid in warm weather, you know what's even better? A steaming cup of chai tea in your kitchen in your fluffy socks in december.

And you know what's even better than that? Cookies. Gingery, chewy cookies for dunking and nomming. Sound good? Yes. And like many cookies in the world, pretty easy to make. I may not be a great fan of ginger, but here, a little fresh grated ginger makes the world seem warm again, in that way that you know your toes are a bit cold but your stomach is glowing.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Ginger Cookies

2 dozen.

adapted from Joy the Baker

1 heaping cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
dash salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp freshly grated ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/8 cup molasses
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/8 cup granulated sugar, for rolling dough balls

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or spray lightly with cooking spray.

Whisk the flour, baking soda, spices and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. 

 In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and brown sugar until smoothly blended, about 2 minutes. 

Add the egg and molasses and mix until blended and an even light color, about 1 minute.

By hand, add the flour mixture, mixing just to incorporate. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Spread the granulated sugar into a small bowl. Roll a heaping tablespoon of dough between the palms of your hands into a ball, toss the ball in sugar to coat and place on the prepared baking sheet. Continue making cookies, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Bake the cookies one sheet at a time until the tops feel firm but are still soft in the center and there are several large cracks on top, about 12-14 minutes.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a plate for eating or an airtight plastic container to store for up to 4-5 days.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Oh hey! There's a picture of me! And I've got a plate of cookies on my head!

What can I say? it's October. It's pumpkin season. Don't try to reason with me and say I didn't actually use fresh pumpkin in this recipe. Shh. It's pumpkin season. It's pumpkin puree from a can season.

 Also, It's chocolate chip season. Also, it's always chocolate chip season. So make sure they're always in your freezer.

These pumpkins were sweet and fluffy, kind of like cake cookies, or muffin tops or something. I mean, there's not much to it. Pumpkins. Chocolate chips. How could it not be a good idea?

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies
adapted from Joy the Baker


2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Position a rack in the middle of the oven.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. 

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a medium bowl and set aside. 

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with a whisk until smooth and lightened in color. 

Whisk in the oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until blended. 

Mix in the flour mixture and then the chips.

Using a tablespoon, scoop mounds of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies at least 2 1/2-inches apart. Smooth and flatten the rounds.

Bake the cookies until the tops feel firm and a fork inserted in the center comes out dry, about 15 minutes. 

Cool cookies and then eat. Stored in an airtight container, they'll last about 5 days.

Super Sexy Sesame Ssscookies

 I gotta say, I'm not a big fan of sesame. But a friend who is very dear to me kinda loves the flavor more than anything. So, you know. It might not have even been a question of whether I would make these cookies for her. And they're gluten-free!

These cookies are made with almond flour, which is really just ground up almonds. They're the best gluten-free substitute I can find so far. Though, I'm pretty sure that you could make these with regular all-purpose and they'd still knock you over. Even I, a non-sesame lover, had a few. And maybe a couple more. 

Inception Cookies (what?!)

These cookies are, yes, based on the movie. The movie features a dream within a dream within a dream. Well, here's the adjoining baked good: a cookie within a cookie (within a cookie, if you count oreo filling as the third cookie). Truly: an oreo covered in chocolate chip cookie dough and baked right up. Inception cookies for the win. 

These cookies are orgasmic (to quote my brother, who upon biting in said something like: "I just jizzed in my mouth"). The oreo gets nice and soft, and how could anyone dislike chocolate chip cookies?

FoodFoodFood

So.

I'm Lola, I'm a high school student in New York, and I love to cook.

I've been vegetarian since birth (well, before that, even), so everything here will be vegetarian.

I haven't really gotten to the point where I make my own recipes much, so most of these recipes will be adapted, but my, won't they be adapted. I like to fiddle with recipes to the point of almost breaking them, but don't worry, I'll only be posting recipes that have turned out well.