This year leave some Naughty Coal Cookies out for Santa! Deep, dark chocolate cookies studded with bittersweet chocolate look like lumps of black coal! Recipe yields 36 lumps… I mean cookies.
Do you think Santa would Mind if he was left a plate of coal cookies?
Does he have a sense of humor? Would he let out one good ho-ho-ho, take a bite (fall in love) and then poof! drops an iPad under the tree for me?!
Seriously though, these cookies are all kinds of fun. More fun than getting real coal in your stocking but not as fun as silly putty, orange flavored chapstick and a Teen Bop magazine.
If you know, you know.
To Make These Naughty Coal Cookies you Will Need:
- unbleached all-purpose flour – Gives structure to the cookies.
- black cocoa powder – Gives these cookies that dark coal-like color. (see notes below)
- baking powder – Will create lightness in the batter, which makes it rise.
- unsalted butter – Adds moisture, richness and flavor.
- granulated sugar – Adds sweetness and flavor.
- dark brown sugar – For a touch of sweetness and caramel-y flavor.
- eggs – Lends richness and flavor.
- pure vanilla extract – Gives warmth and enhances all of the other flavors in this recipe.
- chocolate chips – Adds little pockets of melty chocolate.
In a mesh sieve set over a bowl, measure and add 1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 1-1/4 cups black cocoa and 1 teaspoon baking powder.
WHAT IS BLACK COCOA POWDER?
Black cocoa has a distinct and mild chocolate flavor and is processed in a way that makes it darker in color. It is lower in acidity, which allows its distinct flavor to shine. Love Oreos? That’s probably because of the black cocoa powder (and the cream filled middle!).
I have seen recipes where black cocoa powder is used to color the black velvet cake. However, since I based this recipe from my red velvet cake recipe, I used food coloring to give it the rich black color.
Gently sift the ingredients into the bowl below. Set this off to the side for a moment.
In the bowl of your stand mixer, add 2 sticks (1 cup) softened unsalted butter with 1 cup granulated sugar, 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon fine salt.
Next, mix on medium-low speed for about 2 to 3 until light and fluffy. With that being said, this cookie dough ends up being pretty dense so a hand mixer might not be able to do the job.
Then, with the mixer on low add one egg at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Add in 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract with the last egg.
Scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as you go.
Next gradually add in the dry ingredients.
Continue to mix, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Next, add 1-1/2 cups chocolate chips. For this recipe, I’m using bittersweet 60% cacao and slowly mix them in.
Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 400°.
Now you’re ready to make some coal. Use a 2 tablespoon scoop to measure out 12 of the coal-dough-balls.
Arrange them on a lined rimmed baking sheet. Slide the pan into your preheated oven for 6-8 minutes.
Once out of the oven, use a drinking glass to cover the cookie and make a swirling motion. This will correct any imperfect edges, yielding a perfectly round cookie.
Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for about 5 minutes before using a spatula to transfer them to a wire rack and finish cooling.
And there you have it! Coal cookies. The color can be a little shocking.
But yes these extremely black cookies are edible. Just because they look just.like.coal doesn’t mean they taste like coal. Only a gazillion times better because, chocolate! I think they taste like chocolate chip Oreo brownies.
Merry Christmas!
Enjoy! And if you give this Naughty Coal Cookis recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
