☃️ Chocolate X-mas Cookies ☃️
I made a few of these Chocolate Christmas Cookies as a test run and I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out! They didn’t take long to make and the ganache was so delicious!!
These cookies are just what your family’s wanting this year… Santa too!
❄️ Would you give this recipe a try?? ❄️
Ingredients: 🎅
COOKIES 🍪
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
GANACHE 🍫
• ⅓ cup heavy cream
• 1 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
• Sprinkles!!
Instructions: 🎄
1. First, make the cookies. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
2. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter and brown sugar and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. Use a silicone spatula to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, then add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high until the mixture is fluffy and pale in color, about 2 minutes.
4. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl, then add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and beat on low speed until just combined and no streaks of flour remain.
5. Use a cookie scoop to portion out equal amounts of dough. Roll the dough in your hands to smooth the edges, then place 2 inches apart on the prepared sheet pans. Push in center.
6. Bake until the cookies have puffed up and are set and firm around the edges but still somewhat soft in the middle, 11 to 12 minutes. Remove the sheet pans from the oven and allow the cookies to rest on the sheet pans for 5 minutes, then use a metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Push center back in. Finish cooling for about 25 minutes.
7. Once the cookies have cooled, make the ganache. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the cream. Microwave until the cream is hot to the touch but not boiling, 30 to 45 seconds. Add in the chocolate chips and let sit for 1 minute, then use a spoon to stir the mixture together until smooth and glossy.
8. Use a small offset spatula or a spoon to frost each cookie with about 1 tablespoon of the ganache, spreading it in an even circle around the top of the cookie. Add sprinkles then place the cookies back on the cooling rack for the ganache to set, about 30 minutes!
#lemon8partner #lemon8christmas #bakewithkaylee #holidayeats #lemon8challenge @Lemon8 Food @Lemon8 US
If you're looking for the perfect festive treat this holiday season, chocolate Christmas cookies with a smooth ganache topping are a delightful choice. These cookies balance a tender, slightly soft center with a lightly crisp edge, giving a pleasant texture that melts in your mouth. The dough uses Dutch-processed cocoa powder, which provides a deep chocolate flavor and rich color, ideal for holiday desserts. To achieve the fluffiest texture, it’s important to beat the butter and brown sugar until light and airy. This step is crucial as it incorporates air into the dough, resulting in a lighter cookie. When adding the egg and vanilla, continue beating until the mixture is pale and fluffy, which helps create the perfect crumb. The setting process of the cookie centers and ganache is essential. After baking, allowing the cookies to rest on the sheet pans helps them firm up gently without overbaking, ensuring a soft interior. Pushing in the centers before and after baking helps maintain their shape and controls spreading. Cooling the cookies completely before applying ganache ensures that the topping sets properly without melting. Making ganache with heavy cream and chocolate chips is a quick and effective method for an indulgently smooth frosting. Allowing the melted chocolate and cream mixture to sit before stirring facilitates an even, glossy finish. The optional use of sprinkles adds a festive touch and fun texture, making the cookies visually appealing for holiday gatherings. For those interested in baking variations, experimenting with bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips can adjust the sweetness to your preference. Additionally, using quality imitation vanilla extract, as mentioned in the recipe notes, can enhance the aroma and depth of flavor. These luscious chocolate cookies are a crowd-pleaser suitable for gift-giving or holiday parties. They combine ease of preparation and deliciousness, creating a joyful baking experience that brings together family and friends around the season's warmth and sweetness.
Thanks for sharing your recipe, the cookies look so delicious. I’m definitely going to try to make it for my Christmas gathering.