Saturday, July 25, 2015

Hot Chocolate Cookies




Cookies are the perfect sweet treat when to pack when you go camping. They can be made ahead in a large batch, don't need refrigeration, and even the simplest cookies taste extra delicious when eaten around a campfire. We have a few camping trips planned in the next few months, and as always, planning the menu is one of the most important preparation tasks. 
These cookies are family favorite, the original cookies recipe comes from Stacy Adimando's The Cookiepedia but we have changed  it up a little to suit our tastes.

One of our favorite things is the slow unexpected heat from the cayenne pepper. It gives just a little warmth at the end of a bite, and it definitely makes you want to go back for more. Without the pepper, these are simple but good chocolate cookies, but our family can't resist that little surprise flavor the cayenne adds. These are definitely on our camping menu this summer, and I know they will be devoured long before we return home. 

Hot Chocolate Cookies

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour 
2 tbs cocoa powder 
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt 
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
6 oz semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled to room temperature 
2 oz butter
1/2 cup plus 2 tbs dark brown sugar 
2 medium eggs
1 tsp vanilla 
4 oz semisweet chocolate chips

 Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and melted chocolate. Mix well. Add dry ingredients, stir to combine and add chocolate chips. Chill dough 1 hr . Roll into 1-1 1/2 inch balls,bake 350 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.