I had looked at the recipe, or should I say–picture, for Chocolate Chunkers many times. They looked mighty tasty and mighty chocolaty. I hadn’t actually read the ingredient list until I sat down to make my shopping list on Saturday.
HOLY COW.
The recipe calls for what is essentially a pound (give or take two ounces) of various kinds of chocolate with a bit of flour, sugar and eggs to hold it together. And with a “few” nuts and dried fruit thrown in for good health. (Smile.)
(unsweetened and bittersweet chocolate chips ready for melting)
I suggest you only make these if you are a chocoholic.
(all melted–I cheated and did it in the microwave on half power)
The process of making these cookies is very much like my favorite brownie recipe.
(beaten until thick and foamy)
I like that there’s no butter to let soften. It gets melted in with the chocolate and then you add it to the eggs and sugar.
The batter/dough is like pure fudge. SOOOO tasty.
The dry ingredients consist of a little flour and cocoa powder, a bit of salt and baking powder. I added a little more salt–just a pinch more–because I like salt and chocolate together.
After you add the dry ingredients, you pull out the big guns–loads of chocolate, nuts and dried fruit.
I am a white chocolate snob. I could not find the real stuff made with cocoa butter–only the stuff made palm kernel oil. Don’t even….
Thus we are left with milk and semi-sweet chocolate and my favorite nuts–PECANS.
When I asked my husband if he wanted raisins or dried cherries, he replied simply, “Neither.” I made half without cherries, and half with cherries.
They don’t get baked too long–just long enough for them to set and still be super gooey inside.
The jury is still out on the cherries. I say they were needed–it helped cut through the richness of all that chocolate. And these are for sure grown-up cookies. For once my little helper thought they were too chocolaty and opted for plain old chocolate chip when given the choice.
Chocolate Chunkers
From Baking: From My Home to Yours, by Dorie Greenspan
Ingredients:
1/3 cup all purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Droste Dutch processed cocoa)
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. baking powder
3 tablespoon unsalted butter – cut into pieces
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 large eggs (at room temperature)
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
6 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 oz. white chocolate chopped (I used milk instead)
1 ½ coarsely chopped nuts ( I used pecans)
1 cup dark or golden raisins, plump dried apricots, or another dried fruit that you like.
Instructions:
Center rack in the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon mats (don’t skip this step).
Sift together flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder. Melt butter with unsweetened and bittersweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. The chocolate should be smooth and shiny. Set on counter to cool.
Beat eggs and sugar on medium high speed until mixture is pale and foamy. Reduce speed, add vanilla. Then add cooled melted chocolate, and mix only until incorporated. Add dry ingredients. Do not over mix. Dough will be thick and shiny. Try not to eat all the dough out of the bowl.
Add semisweet and white chocolate chunks, nuts, and raisins. Drop dough onto baking sheets, making each cookie about the size of a golf ball. Leave an inch between dough. Bake for 10-12 minutes, but start to check your cookies at about 7-8 minutes. It’s very hard to tell if a chocolate cookie is “done,” and burned chocolate tastes terrible. Dorie recommends baking until the “tops of the cookies look a little dry.”
Cool cookies. These freeze very well.
28 Comments
I really wanted to use dried cherries too but my boyfriend refused to let me! I couldn’t believe all the chocolate too…! Your look great.
Your cookies look seriously decadently fabulously delicious Lindsey! I had to pass on these. Todd hates chocolate cookies. I made gingerbread cupcakes instead. But I could sure go for one of your great looking cookies though!
great pictures! well done.
those are the best two words to describe these cookies – HOLY COW. Indeed.
Your cookies look great – I have this book, but I haven’t tried this recipe yet!
Oy. Your batter pictures have left me wanting to make these. Lovely.
I am totally a chocolate microwave melter too. Hey it works! Better than dirtying up a saucepan of water right? HAHA.
Clara @ iheartfood4thought
Your photos are outstanding! Nice job on these cookies :)
Have a delicious day…
Oh holy moly. I am totally making these. I was thinking about not eating sugar this week but this officially proved the stupidity of the idea. My taste buds thank you
I like the idea of the cherries. Must have added a lot to the flavor. They look really good.
yum- welcome back!!!!
Your pictures are so great! The cookies look amazing. I used cherry flavored Craisins and I’m glad I did.
Your pictures are wonderful. I recommend making these with the raisins–they were very good, and like the cherries, helped to cut through the richness.
your cookies look great – far less flat than mine. I loved these!!
I love your photos. Great job.
Glad you liked them – they look great!
lovely photos & glad you liked them with cherries! i thought they were very brownie-batter-ish too.
Yes, these were really over the top! (We loved them.) I used cherries too & liked how they added a tart note.
Your pictures are great!
When I asked my husband if he wanted raisins or dried cherries, he replied simply, “Neither….
THAT is exactly what my husband said!? He also said I don’t know why they want you to add all this extra yucky stuff when the cookie is fine with out them..HA! I loved these cookies they were sooo good. Yours turned out wonderful!
Love your step by step pics! Wonderul cookies!
Fantastics!!!
beautiful light in your photos lindsey. it looks like you never moved! delicious cookies too!
I loved these cookies with the pecans. Yours look rich and delicious, great job!
Oh heaven!
my goodness, could your photos be more delicious. I am leaving my computer right now to fill up on some chocolate. thanks for the recipe!
My kids let me eat them all too! Your pictures are beautiful!
holy cow! I really can’t look at your blog too often cause I am trying to loose weight and everything you make tempts me. But…I am sure I will try these anyway. They look fabulous!
Oh, what a fabulous post. Your step by step pictures are so beautiful. And those cookies – wow! I was wondering about how cherries would taste, but this time I used golden raisins and crystalized ginger in some. I did some with just chocolate, as you did.
I am so totally in agreement with your comment on the dimply cake p&q. I could not believe how perfectly the cardamom and plum paired. Just the best recipe! I look forward to seeing your post about it!
Nancy