Sunday, May 18, 2008

My Cookie for $1 Million...

Whew... what a day of baking! Like the insane person I am, I not only made up today's recipe, but an altered batch of these muffins for my mom, and a batch of brand-new, fruit-grain-and-nut filled muffins for whomever wants them! But today... today is the day of the world's most expensive cookie.

I'm not kidding, either. New York can eat it's heart out, because I doubt that anywhere or anybody else - be they large scale corporations, restaurants, home bakers or celebrity chefs - has spent a minimum of $5000 on a single batch recipe - yielding only 6 cookies. And yet, there is no gold leaf, no platinum or diamonds hiding within the dough. Ohh no. There is something much much better:

Yup. Amedei Toscano 70% chocolate. Some of the most expensive chocolate in the world. And it is exactly this chocolate that causes the cookies to be worth 5x their weight in gold.

I know what you're saying... "but Sarah, I've looked at that stuff online and it's nowhere near $5000. What gives?". Well, I'm doing a bit of cheating here, by factoring in the fact that the two bars of this absolutely divine confection were brought back to me by my mom and stepdad from their honeymoon in Italy... which lasted (if you recall) 3 weeks and cost in the ballpark of 5 grand, not counting souvenirs. So, I'm justified. I wouldn't have the chocolate if they hadn't gone to Italy on their honeymoon, and though I'm slightly ticked off that they are ditching my sister and I this summer for a trip out to the Canadian maritimes (and the fact that they didn't even tell us before they booked it!) I thank them for these pieces of culinary indulgence.

Now, I reveal to you these balls of chocolate and peanutty gooodness in all their glory, and I cannot wait for them to be taste-tested by my loyal followers - Martha, my Dad and Andrew (of course!), and I even saved one for my Mom. She needs her chocolate after spending the entire long weekend out in the garden (and in the rain) doing heavy labour!

I know there are a lot of photos, but bear with me... I was having fun! It takes some time, and a little effort, but it's worth it! The resulting treat is nothing short of decadent, and insanely rich... tread lightly and serve with lots of milk!

Italian Millionaire Cookies
Makes 6 large cookies, fit for a queen (or king)
- Chocolate Dough -
3 tbsp shortening
3 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp instant espresso powder
3 tbsp flour
3 tbsp cocoa powder
1/8 tsp baking soda

- Peanut Butter Dough -
3 tbsp smooth peanut butter
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tbsp whole milk
3 tbsp flour
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp baking powder

- Assembly -
60 grams (6 squares) Amedei 70% Toscano chocolate (or similar)

Chocolate Dough
  1. Cream shortening, brown sugar and salt together.
  2. Beat in milk and vanilla.
  3. Whisk together espresso powder, flour, cocoa and baking soda together, beat into creamed mix.
  4. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Peanut Butter Dough

  1. Cream together peanut butter, sugars, vanilla and milk.
  2. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder.
  3. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Assembly

  1. Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with parchment (do not grease).
  2. Flatten out two rounds of peanut butter dough roughly the size of the chocolate square.
  3. Place the chocolate in the middle of one disc, top with the other dough round and pinch the seams to seal.
  4. Repeat with remaining chocolate squares and peanut butter dough.
  5. Follow the same procedure for flattening the chocolate dough into rounds, this time placing the peanut butter round in the centre of each.
  6. Place sealed cookies on the baking sheet.
  7. Bake 11-12 minutes, allow to cool 5 minutes on sheets before removing to wire rack and cooling completely.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 243.7
Total Fat: 14.0 g
Cholesterol: 0.3 mg
Sodium: 42.1 mg
Total Carbs: 26.8 g
Dietary Fiber: 3.0 g
Protein: 4.4 g

4 comments :

  1. These are really interesting. I don't have anyone going to Italy, though, so I'd probably have to make a little substitution there... :)

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  2. I could use some of the Amano chocolate I had shipped to me for these....hmmmmmmm:D

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  3. Put up a pic of the peanut butter cookie with the melted chocolate center!!! Food porn! Droooool!

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  4. this cookie was so amazing

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