Thursday, December 18, 2014

Guitard Double Dark Chocolate Cookies



Brownies, cakes and cookies are the staples of my holiday baking. I love to eat them as well as give them for gifts. Ordinarily I use recipes from my cookbooks, or Pinterest but lately I have been finding great recipes on the back of chocolate chip bags and these Guitard Double Dark Chocolate Cookies are one of them. 

Dark, decadent and bittersweet with a lightly crunchy top these cookies are perfect for gifts, a cookie exchange or keeping them all for yourself to enjoy sitting in front of a toasty fire.





Double Dark Chocolate Cookies

2 cups Guittard 63% extra dark chocolate chips, divided
2 tablespoons water
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Melt 11/2 cups of chips and 2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Cream the butter and sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl and beat until light. Beat in eggs and vanilla until smooth. Add melted chocolate, stopping to scrape the bowl as needed. Mix in flour and baking soda until just incorporated. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of chips. Drop rounded teaspoons onto baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until tops are cracked and crusty. Centers shouls still be sorft and appear slightly underdone. Let stand 5 minutes before removing to cooling racks. Store in an airtight container. 





Enjoy!



Friday, December 5, 2014

Guittard Truffle Brownies





December 1st can you even  believe it? Christmas preparations are well under way at my house, decorating, buying and wrapping gifts and of course baking. Although I always make truffles this year I thought I would make Truffle brownies using a recipe I found on the back of a bag of Guittard extra dark chocolate chips.




These brownies are FABULOUS! They are dense, moist, extra chocolaty, and simply delicious.More like a truffle candy than a brownie.  If you are a "fudgie" brownie lover than you are going to enjoy these.






Truffle Brownies

12/3 cups Guittard 63% extra dark chocolate chips
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons water
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Position a rack in the center of the oven and pre-heat to 325. Line an 8 inch square pan with aluminum foil leaving the edges long enough to use as handles to life out the brownies after they bake.
In a medium pan, melt the chocolate, butter and water and stir until smooth. With a wooden spoon beat in the sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time until smooth and glossy. Stir in the flour until just combines. Spread the batter into the pan and bake 35-40 minutes or until a crust forms on the tip. The center of the brownies with be moist when tested with a toothpick.
Do NOT OVER BAKE.
Place pan on a rack and cool for 3 hours or overnight. remove brownies from pan and cut into 16 squares. Enjoy!








Enjoy the season!