Sunday, November 8, 2009

Maida Heatter's Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Chocolate is never far from my mind - a craving, desire, a love. Whenever I think of a dessert, the first flavors that immediately pop into my head are either chocolate or lemon...sometimes both ;)


Shortbread is high on the list of cookie favorites and this past weekend I needed a cookie fix.


I love Dorie Greenspans World Peace cookies and have made them often. I wanted to try something a little different and decided on Maida Heatter's Chocolate Shortbread cookies.


It was a wonderful cookie but World Peace cookies by Dorie Greenspan still rule the world, in my opinion. I think it's the addition of chopped bittersweet chocolate that gives me that intense chocolate flavor that I need.


I used basic cocoa when I made the recipe, but should I make them again, I would buy a better cocoa to pump up the chocolate flavor. Please don't misunderstand, these were wonderful, shortbread-y cookies and if you don't need the intense chocolate flavor that I crave, you may love these. Everyone I served them to enjoyed them!



Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Adapted from a Maida Heatter Recipe
Printable Recipe

Makes 25 to 30 cookies.

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted then measured by scoop and level process
1/2 cup very best quality unsweetened cocoa powder you can find
1 cup confectioners'(powdered) sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.

Cream butter. Add vanilla, sugar and salt and beat to mix. Add the flour and cocoa, and mix only until the dough holds together. Form the mixture into a ball, and flatten slightly.

Flour a pastry cloth or work surface and rub a little flour onto a rolling pin as well. Place the dough on the surface, turning it to coat both sides with flour. With the rolling pin, roll the dough into a square, 1/2 inch thick, using your hands to help shape it. A uniform thickness is important. Cut the dough into 1-1/2 inch squares. Using a fork, pierce the cookies 2-3 times.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

27 comments:

  1. Susan..I made chocolate shortbreads last yr.. they were not as beautiful as yours..but we really enjoyed them...
    They almost look like dominoes:)

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  2. Susan - they look fantastic!! I love shortbread cookies but have never made chocolate ones.
    The mosaic turned out wonderful..like the way you have them stacked up!

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  3. I love how you presented them, Susan! The plate is gorgeous! The cookies look sensational! I know what you mean with the intense chocolate boost!

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  4. I'm with you Susan on the Chocolate and Lemon flavors...sheer bliss. Very cute little cookies!!, xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

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  5. These cookies look so perfect they could easily have come from a packet.....loves chocolate too!!!

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  6. These are such cute little cuties with the design on them and I too love how you displayed them in the mosaic (stacks rule). Beautiful mosaic and post...as always!

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  7. Love this chocolate version of one of my favorite cookies. These crispy cookies would be lovely with a cup of tea.

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  8. Susan, you probably know I love chocolate, so your glorious stack of chocolate shortbread would only survive about as long as it would take to transfer them from oven to plate, at my house.

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  9. They look delicious..beautiful presentation!
    I have never made the world peace cookies..guess I should give them a try!

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  10. Susan, your chocolate shortbread cookies are beautiful! What lovely pictures.... They are worthy of b being published in a cookbook. And you punctured them perfectly.

    For a chocolate cookie, World Peace is hard to beat. ... I have several favorite Maida Heatter cookie recipes and her cookie book is one of my most used and favorite cookbooks.

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  11. Oh dear -- I was doing fine till now LOL

    Stop by and say hi if you have a moment.

    TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥

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  12. I've never had chocolate shortbread cookies but it sure does look like something my little brother would love.

    You also photographed it perfectly.

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  13. I love choclate and shortbread, I haven't had them together in a cookie but they sound delicious. Great presentation and pictures.

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  14. Pass me one of those chocolate shortbread cookies and no one gets hurt!!
    My mouth is watering.
    Happy MM to you!

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  15. Your cookies look so delicious! Can you pass some over this way , please.
    Great mosaic.

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  16. Susan, chocolate shortbread sound delish.....I tried the Dorie's Korova (world peace) cookies a few times but didn't care for them...guess it is a good thing we all have different tastes or we would never get to try new recipes!

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  17. Yummy post. Thanks for sharing.
    Have a Blessed Week,
    Sherry

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  18. Hi,
    I've not heard of this recipe before so will have to find out more, your shortbread looks delicious and the mosaic is fab.
    Maggie

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  19. Love your mosaic! I'm a big fan of shortbread as well as chocolate and lemon :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  20. Maida is a great favorite of mine. I have every one of her cookbooks. Every single recipe is perfect!
    I agree about cocoa- a recipe I saw being made recently emphasized the importance of a good rich cocoa.

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  21. Did I miss the recipe you used? If it's not posted, can you send it to me?

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  22. Thank you all for your wonderful comments and, as NikiTheo just pointed out, I forgot to include the recipe!

    I've fixed that today and my apologies to all!

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  23. I love shortbread cookies although I've never made Chocolate Shortbread before. I feel deprived!

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  24. These are so cute! It IS hard to top the World Peace cookies though. Pretty little mosaic! I know I'm late to the party, but I'm trying to catch up on my fav blogs :-)

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  25. I'm in love with shortbread. This looks delicious!

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