Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Tart

The concept of small batch cooking has been around for awhile. There are cookbooks and blogs completely devoted to everything from small batch meals to small batch desserts. In many instances, these small batch recipes are not simply regular recipes cut in half, they are reconfigured, reimagined ones. Because in some cases, it can be a bit of a challenge to evenly cut some ingredients in half. Like a raw egg for example. Especially if a recipe calls for using the egg white and egg yolk separately. Up until recently I haven't had the inclination to shift from large scale to small scale. But I am finally coming around to all of the compelling advantages to the concept. Particularly when it comes to baking. It can be dangerous to have too many sweets in the house!

Aside from not wanting any delicious or decadent baked good go to waste, it's nice to be able to have recipes perfectly sized to satisfy the sweet tooths of a small household, a small gathering, a friend, or a neighbor. And this fudgy, deeply chocolately, eight inch round Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Tart checks off all of those boxes and more!

The Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Tart can be cut up into 8 wedges and served plain, with freshly whipped cream or ice cream, or it could slathering in whipped cream and garnished with edible flowers, chocolate shavings, or more miniature peanut butter cups! The possibilities are endless!

The deep chocolately flavor in this Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Tart comes from three kinds of chocolate: melted semi-sweet chocolate chips, Dutch Process cocoa, and double dark or black cocoa. The use of both the Dutch Processed cocoa and the double dark or black cocoa not adds great flavor, it deepens the color of the baked brownie, giving it an even richer, more luscious, more irresistible seductive appeal. 

The miniature peanut butter cups come from Trader Joe's. If you don't have one near you or if you are not a big fan of peanut butter, replace them with chopped semi-sweet or dark chocolate. Your Brownie Tart will be delicious either way.

The thick brownie batter is a prelude to how fudgy the baked brownie tart will be. 

In a preheated 350 degree (F) oven, the brownie tart bakes up in 26-28 minutes. After cooling in the cake pan for ten minutes, the tart is transferred to a cooling rack or serving platter. Enjoy it either slightly warm or at room temperature.

If you needed the least bit of persuading about the small batch desserts, this Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Tart should more than convince you.

If you are looking for a simple, sweet tooth satisfying, scrumptious, dessert to serve for a small dinner party, the addition of some freshly whipped lightly sweetened heavy cream is the perfect finishing touch. 

Who will you make these rich, fudgy, decadent Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Tart for?  Or rather how long will you wait before you make them? 

Recipe

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Tart

Makes one 8" round tart (serves 6-8)

Ingredients

1.5 ounces (42g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

6 Tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter

1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar

1/3 cup (70g) light brown sugar

1 large egg, room temperature

1 large egg yolk, room temperature

1/2 cup (65g) all-purpose flour

1/3 cup (28g) Dutch-process cocoa

1 1/2 Tablespoons (14g) double dark Dutch-process or black cocoa (see notes)

1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

2.7 ounces (75g) miniature peanut butter cups (OR chopped semi-sweet chocolate)

Flaky sea salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line an 8" cake pan with parchment paper. Line bottom with a parchment paper round. Butter & flour sides of pan and top of parchment paper. Set aside.

2. In a small sauce pan, melt the unsalted butter and semi-sweet chocolate morsels. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

3. In a large bowl, add in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, one whole egg, one egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat for approximately 3-4 minutes or until the mixture is creamy and has doubled in size.

4. Add in the slightly cooled melted chocolate. Beat on low, just to blend.

5. Fold in the flour, Dutch process cocoa, Kosher salt, and double dark or black cocoa just mostly blended,

6. Finally, fold in the miniature peanut butter cups until they are well distributed in the thick batter.

7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Lightly sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

8. Place on the baking pan on a sheet pan and place in the oven. Bake for 26-28 minutes.

9. Let the brownies cool in pan for about 10 minutes. Then transfer to a serving platter.

10. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with some freshly whipped lightly sweetened heavy cream or vanilla ice cream. Or serve them plain.

11. Keep any leftovers well wrapped. The tart will be good for up to 3-4 days, if it lasts that long.

Notes: (1) I used the miniature peanut butter cups from Trader Joe's. If you wanted an all chocolate brownie, use chopped semi-sweet chocolate. (2) The double dark cocoa came from King Arthur. But you could use black cocoa instead (found in some grocery stores or gourmet food stores). The brownies made with black cocoa will be even deeper in color! (3) Do not bake in a 9" round cake pan as the brownies will be too thin! If you don't have an 8" cake pan, use a 9"x 5" baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper so the brownies are easy to remove when done baked. Baking time will range from 27-28 minutes. Cut the brownies into 8 wedges or 8 bars.

Chocolate Covered Peanutty Stuffed Dates aka Candy Bar Dupes

"If you snooze, you lose." We all know this timeless adage. "If you skip going out to breakfast or coffee with your friends after a Saturday morning run, you miss out." This recently invented adage is my new motto. I had skipped out on going to a post-run breakfast a few ago, only to subsequently learn at the next one that I missed out on more than the group camaraderie. My friend Rose had shared how her sister Imelda told her she really needed to make chocolate covered peanut butter and pecan stuffed dates. So being a really good sister, Rose listened. And after she made them, Rose again shared the story. Thankfully I was there to hear the story being told a second time. And luckily the second telling came with a resounding endorsement! The chocolate covered peanut butter and pecan stuffed dates, ones akin to tasting like a Snickers bar but a bit 'healthier', were indeed everything Imelda said they were. Being a good friend I listened to this story. Which meant after immediately going home to learn a little more about these delicious sounding 'better than a candy bar' confections, I made them less than twenty-four hours later. And what did I think? I will simply say these absolutely, unbelievably scrumptious, five ingredient, five star wonder bars would not have been possible without my friends Imelda and Rose. 

If I didn't tell you these Chocolate Covered Peanutty Stuffed Dates aka Candy Bar Dupes were made with dates, you would never ever know. Which means when you make them for your friends and family, withhold that bit of information until they taste them. I am betting they won't believe you.

And your friends who have a sweet tooth, will love you more than they already do for these 'all of the pleasure without almost all of the guilt' bars.

Medjool dates, dark chocolate, creamy peanut butter, flaky sea salt and toasted pecans (or chopped honey roasted peanuts or a praline pecan) create a confection likely to become your newest obsession. They definitely qualify as having additive properties.

Medjools are best dates to use as they are sweet, chewy, dense, and the perfect size for stuffing! The first step in making the Chocolate Covered Peanutty Stuffed Dates aka Candy Bar Dupes is removing the pit using a sharp knife. Once the pit is removed, slightly open the date. When cutting the date, be careful not to cut all the way through the date when removing the pit.

Use an offset spatula to stuff about 1/2 teaspoon of creamy peanut butter into the opening. Then add either a toasted pecan half, a pecan praline half, or about a 1/2 teaspoon of chopped honey roasted peanuts.

Close up the stuffed date and dip them into the melted chocolate.

If you want to gussy them up a bit, use a fork or a pastry bag to drizzle or pipe a little more chocolate on top before lightly sprinkling with flaky sea salt. If you want a simpler presentation, just lightly sprinkle on the flaky sea salt before the chocolate sets. 

The set up time for the chocolate dipped stuffed dates should be less than 15 minutes, especially if you are using a good quality melting chocolate. They will set up at room temperature, however, if you are making them on a humid day or in the summer, you can let them set up in the refrigerator. On a side note, I think they taste even better when slightly chilled.

Some will describe these Chocolate Covered Peanutty Stuffed Dates aka Candy Bar Dupes as tasting like a Snickers Bar, some might say they have a Buckeye quality to them, some will say they detect a slight caramel flavor (that would come from the dates), and others will just be completely flabbergasted that something seemingly so decadent is made with dates. But regardless of everyone's first impression, they will devour them!! 

The inspiration for these Chocolate Covered Peanutty Stuffed Dates aka Candy Bar Dupes came from two friends. And the name (Candy Bar Dupes) for these insanely good bites came from another. After sharing my first batch with running friends, my friend Suzie asked what I was going to call them. Other than the very wordy Chocolate Covered Peanutty Stuffed Dates, I said I didn't know. It was then she suggested the word 'dupe'. While it's a word that could be interpreted in multiple ways, I liked it. And just like that the Chocolate Covered Peanutty Stuffed Dates had a second, more fun, easier to remember name. Candy Bar Dupes! But whatever you call them, you should make these dangerously delicious, more wholesome alternative to a real candy bar. They are really sinfully good!

Recipe

Chocolate Covered Peanutty Stuffed Dates aka Candy Bar Dupes

Makes 20

Ingredients

12 ounces (340g) package of Organic Whole Fresh Medjool Dates (there are about 20 dates in the container)

Creamy Peanut Butter (about a 1/4 cup)

20 toasted pecan halves or praline pecan halves OR 1/3 cup chopped honey roasted peanuts

12 ounces (342g) dark chocolate melting wafers, melted

Flaky Sea Salt

Directions

1. Cut a slit in each date with a sharp knife. With the tip of knife remove the pit.

2. Using an offset spatula, place about 1/2 teaspoon of the creamy butter into one side of the date.

3. Insert the pecan half and/or about 1/2 teaspoon of crushed honey roasted peanuts into the date opening.

4. Carefully close up the date. 

5. Dip the stuffed dates into the melted dark chocolate. Place the chocolate dipped date onto a sheet of parchment paper. Lightly drizzle or pipe on some additional chocolate (to gussy them up) and then lightly  sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Let the chocolate set. Note: If using a good melting chocolate, set up time will be less than 15 minutes (especially if placed in a cooler location in your house). 

6. Enjoy immediately or put in a covered container and place in the refrigerator to chill. Note: They are even more delicious when chilled.

7. The Chocolate Covered Peanutty Stuffed Dates aka Candy Bar Dupes will remain fresh for up to 2 weeks if stored in the refrigerator.

Notes: (1) I used Jif Creamy Butter. (2) To toast the pecan halves, place on a heavy bottomed baking sheet. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Bake for 7-9 minutes or until lightly darkened and fragrant. (3) There are hundreds of recipes for similarly made confections. Many suggest you either chill the stuffed date before you dip them in chocolate or put them in either the freezer or refrigerator after you dip them. I didn't find that necessary. Although when I make these on a hot, humid day in the summer, more than likely I will place the dipped dates in the refrigerator to set up.

Chocolate Croissants

Some of you may have noticed there is a trend happening here on the blog. I would like to say it was intentional, but that wouldn't exactly be truthful. If you have seen a shift toward easy (or easier) to make recipes, you have keen powers of perception and observation! What prompted me to share less complicated recipes for beautiful, delicious food will be one of those unsolved mysteries. Who knows how long this trend will last, so it's duration is definitely one worth celebrating. More importantly, these simple or simpler recipes are the ones you want to put in your 'keepers' file. Especially these flaky, decadent, semi-homemade Chocolate Croissants! 

Yes, these three ingredient French classic inspired Chocolate Croissants are made with only three ingredients! And you probably know what I am going to say next, because redundancy is my middle name. The quality of ingredients matter. But more on that in just a bit.

For those you have ever eaten a croissant or two or three in France, Switzerland, London or anywhere else in Europe, your bar for mouthwatering Chocolate Croissants is set pretty high. Which means the challenge for me in sharing a recipe promising to evoke all of your fondest memories is a bit daunting. But it's a challenge I am willing to accept. 

What makes the croissants in Europe, particularly in France, taste so good is the high in fat content butter used in making the puff pastry. The biggest difference between an 'authentic' Chocolate Croissant and this one has everything to do with the puff pastry. This recipe uses a high quality pre-made puff pastry rather than one made from scratch. There are several pre-made puff pastry options available at the grocery store, but the one I would strongly recommend using for these croissants is made by Dufour. Hands down it is a winner. Slightly more expensive than other commercially made puff pastry, but worth every penny. Swap out a different puff pastry (other than homemade) when making these Chocolate Croissants and you will have drastically changed the recipe. 

Semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate is both melted and semi-finely chopped. I melted and chopped up Guittard's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (46% cocao) and was thrilled with the results. However, if there was one swap in the ingredients you could make in this recipe, it would be using a good quality chocolate with a higher percentage of cocao. You might even want to use Nutella if you love the flavor of hazelnut. 

The third ingredient is one large egg or one large egg yolk. There are many recipes for egg washes. Some using the egg only, some adding a little water to the egg, and others adding a little milk or cream to the egg. This recipe uses the egg only. I brushed them with a whole egg, but for a more golden finish, you could brush them with just one egg yolk.

To make these Chocolate Croissants you have to first thaw the frozen puff pastry (Dufour only comes frozen). On a lightly floured surface it's rolled out to about an 1/8" thickness. After cutting the sheet in half, the melted chocolate is thinly spread out on one half of the puff pastry using an offset spatula. The semi-finely chopped chocolate gets sprinkled on the melted chocolate before the plain half is laid on top and pressed down lightly. Note: If you were making a double batch of these Chocolate Croissants, you would buy two packages of the Dufour puff pastry, roll both out, and lay one on top of the other. The amount of chocolate needed should then be doubled.

Using a very sharp knife or very sharp pizza cutter, you will cut out 8 triangles. At the widest point, the triangle will range between 1 1/2" - 2".  Staring at the widest end of the triangle, the croissants get tightly rolled up and placed on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Brush off any excess flour on the rolled croissants before generously brushing on the egg wash. To help ensure the tip of the croissant doesn't lift during the baking process, brush some of the egg wash under it so it adheres better to the pastry. Note: If you roll out the puff pastry between two sheets of parchment paper, you won't have to worry about any flour adhering to the puff pastry.

In a 425 degree (F) preheated oven, the Chocolate Croissants bake for anywhere between 22-26 minutes. The croissants are done when they have puffed up and are deep golden in color. If under baked, the croissants will be more doughy than crispy. Note: To find the right amount of baking time for your oven, you can bake up one in the oven. Store the others (unbrushed with egg wash in refrigerator) while the first one bakes. Or you just can bake all of them for the recommended time range.

A fresh out of the oven, golden, flaky, buttery, chocolatey croissant eaten any time of the day is one of those just pinch me moment indulgences. If you want to spoil your family and friends or if you want to relive that memorable trip across the pond, make them these Chocolate Croissants. 

These Chocolate Croissants are a tad on the decadent side and maybe a bit over the top, but they are destined to make anyone you bake them for feel loved. And serving beautifully delicious, especially easy to make food doesn't get any better than that.

Recipe

Chocolate Croissants

Makes 8

Ingredients

14 ounce (396g) package of puff pastry (recommend Dufour), thawed

4 ounces (112g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate, melted

1 ounce (28g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate, semi-finely chopped

1 large egg or 1 large egg yolk (using only an egg yolk will give you the deepest finished color on the baked croissants)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F). Line a heavy bottomed rimmed baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. On a lightly flowered surface, roll out the puff pastry to about a 1/8" inch thickness. OR roll out between two sheets of parchment paper.

3. Cut the puff pastry in half. 

4. Spread the melted chocolate thinly over one half of the puff pastry. If using the chopped chocolate, evenly sprinkle over the melted chocolate.

5. Place the other half of the puff pastry on top. Use a very sharp knife or pizza cutter to make 8 triangles (bottom of each triangle should be 1 1/2" - 2").

6. Generously brush the egg wash or egg yolk over each croissant.

7. Bake for 22-26 minutes or until they are puffed and a deep golden color.

8. Remove from the oven. Let cool slightly. These Chocolate Croissants are heavenly when enjoyed warm, but they are also very delicious when they come to room temperature. 

Notes: (1) Store the baked croissants at room temperature, uncovered if there is low humidity in your house. Covered if the humidity is high. (2) Pepperidge Farm also sells pre-made puff pastry. It is generally found in the refrigerated section of the grocery aisle. If you can't find Dufour puff pastry or are not making your own, you can use this one. The results may be slightly different. (3) Instead of melted chocolate, you can also use Nutella. You will need a little more than a half cup for this recipe.

Blueberry Buttermilk Waffles

I may be one of a handful of people who have never been to the Waffle House. While we have passed a countless number of them when on long road trips, not even hunger pangs had ever compelled us to exit the highway to stop at one. Those who know me have said more than likely I might be disappointed. So rather than prove them wrong, I have heeded their cautionary advice and continued to enjoy my fair share of fluffy, delicious, rich Belgian style buttermilk waffles at home. Which also has had the added benefit of giving me all the more reason to justify my impulse purchase of an All-Clad waffle maker way back when. Fortunately, instead of it being one of those nice to have kitchen appliances, the kind that take up space and gather dust, it's status has been elevated to a must-have one around here. 

Next to Liege Waffles and Cinnamon Roll Waffles, these Blueberry Buttermilk Waffles are yet another good reason why everyone should own a waffle maker. And, if you happen to be one of those who love to eat breakfast for dinner and/or love to invite friends over for breakfast or brunch, you might someday wonder how you had ever lived without one. But this isn't a sales pitch for buying a waffle maker, but it could very well be. It's a blog post with the intention of making your mouth water for a plate of these Blueberry Buttermilk Waffles.

A breakfast of buttery, crispy, fluffy, buttermilk waffles makes for a great start to the day, to the weekend! Just imagine everyone's eye-widening reaction when you set out a platter of warm, homemade waffles! Who doesn't love to make and serve a breakfast everyone swoons over? 

When you look at the ingredients for these waffles you might be wondering if they aren't the same as the ones used to make pancakes. While there are similarities between waffle and pancake ingredients, there are some significant differences between the two. In general, waffle batter contains more sugar, butter and eggs than pancake batter. The result is a richer batter with a higher fat content. There are textural differences between waffles and pancakes as well. Waffles tend to have fluffy interiors and crispy exteriors, due in large part to the sugar and extra fat in the batter. Pancakes then to have a softer, more cake-like texture. Although some pancake batters are made with leavening agents (baking powder and/or baking soda), they are more the exception than the rule. Waffles on the other hand always contain leavening agents in order to contribute to creating their fully interiors. Last, but not least, the difference in ingredient amounts between waffles and pancakes results in differences in batter consistency. Waffle batter is generally thicker than pancake batter.

Like most batters, the wet and dry ingredients are first whisked together separately. But when the wet ingredients are added to the dry ingredients, the best tool for gently blending the batter is a spatula. The batter should be lumpy. So when adding in the fresh blueberries, don't over mix and eliminate all of those lumps. Allow the batter to rest at room temperature for at least 10-15 minutes before you begin making them.

Most waffle makers have non-stick surfaces, lightly oiling them before making your first batch of waffles helps them release easier. Instead of using an aerosol spray, lightly brush on some vegetable oil. There are additives in aerosol sprays you don't want to put on a hot waffle maker as they can cause non-stick surfaces to become sticky and hard to clean over time. So to be safe and to extend the life of your waffle maker, don't use aerosol sprays. 

Cooking time for these thick, golden Blueberry Buttermilk Waffles ranges from 3 to 5 minutes. Cooking time will depend on the heat setting you select as well as the depth of the well of the waffle maker. Most waffle makers will beep when the waffles are done (so look for that feature if you are buying one for the first time).

For the most epic Blueberry Buttermilk Waffle eating experience, serve them with an assortment of toppings. Lightly sweetened whipped cream, butter (room temperature), maple syrup, jams, preserves, confectionary sugar, and/or berries are some of my favorites. 

Not a fan of fresh blueberries? No problem. Leave them out. Because with or without the blueberries, these fluffy, crispy, golden, caramelized finished waffles are throw down worthy delicious. With waffles like these, breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner might best be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. Who knows, your friends might start calling your house the BEST 'Waffle House' ever!

Recipe

Blueberry Buttermilk Waffles

Serves 4-6

Makes 8-10 five inch sized waffles

Ingredients

2 cups (260g) all-purpose flour

1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon (62g) granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/3 cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted, and slightly cooled

2 large eggs

2 cups buttermilk

1 Tablespoon good quality vanilla

2 cups (300g) fresh blueberries

Serving options: butter, lightly sweetened whipped cream, maple syrup, fresh berries, jam/perserves, and/or sifted confectionary sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and Kosher salt. Set aside.

2. In a medium sized bowl, lightly whisk the eggs. Then add in the vanilla, buttermilk and melted butter. Whisk until blended.

3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Use a spatula to blend. Do not over mix. There will be some lumps. 

4. Gently fold in the fresh blueberries. Let the batter rest 10-15 minutes.

5. Heat your waffle maker. Set your heat setting to at least 4. Lightly brush the waffle maker with vegetable oil.

6. Pour 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the batter into your waffle maker. Most waffle makers will beep when the waffles are done. If not, check for doneness after three minutes. 

7. Transfer the cooked waffles to a platter or individual plates.

8. Serve with freshly whipped cream, butter, maple syrup, jams or preserves, and/or additional fresh berries.

9. Place any leftover waffles in a ziplock bag and store in the refrigerator. Heat them up in a toaster (they will re-crisp up beautifully).

Notes: (1) I used this All-Clad waffle maker to make these Blueberry Buttermilk Waffles. If I were buying a new waffle maker I would consider buying the four versus two square one. (2) If you don't like Blueberry Waffles, make these super delicious waffles plain. 

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

Every time I open up the refrigerator, the stockpile of unsalted butter is staring me in the face. There is at least ten pounds of butter just waiting to be put to good use. With Valentine's Day right around the corner I thought maybe I should bake up some buttery, melt in your mouth shortbread cookies, dip them in luscious melted chocolate, adorn with some heart sprinkles, and send out a few surprise, unexpected Valentine Day packages. Not only would it be one way for me to start making a dent in my unsalted butter inventory (it would be a travesty for any of it to go to waste), it would give me the opportunity to share some homemade love. 

I have made this shortbread cookie recipe before in a variety of shapes. However, these cookies would have to be heart shaped. Not just because we have long associated Valentine's Day with hearts, but because the heart has evolved over centuries into being one recognized across cultures as a symbol of love, charity, joy, and compassion. If my surprise tins of heart shaped cookies spark a little joy, then it would have been the best ever use of some of my ample supply of butter. 

With the shaped of the shortbread decided, the next decision I had to make was 'to dip or not to dip' the shortbread in chocolate. Sort of a no-brainer one, right? Because what would Valentines' Day be without a little chocolate? 

Made with only five ingredients, shortbread (with or without chocolate) may be one of those cookies with the widest appeal. Crunchy, buttery, not too sweet deliciousness at it's best. When a cookie has very few ingredients, the quality of the ingredients matter. Using a European style unsalted butter and a good quality vanilla have the power to transform the ordinary shortbread cookie into an extraordinary one. 

This shortbread dough doesn't require any chilling time (unless you are baking on a hot, humid day). Rolled out to at least a 3/8" thickness, the cookies bake up in around 20-22 minutes in a pre-heated 350 degree (F) oven. When the edges and bottoms of the shortbread cookies are beautifully golden in color, they are done. After remaining on the cookie sheet for at least 5 minutes, the shortbread gets transferred to a cooling rack. The shortbread needs to come to room temperature before they are dipped in melted chocolate.

For the best chocolate flavor and most beautiful finish, use good quality melting chocolate. Do not use a bag of chocolate chips. 

Ted Lasso's gesture of giving the gift of classic, homemade shortbread wrapped up in box and tied with a ribbon is an endearing one. Your gift of these Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies is destined to be an equally charming gesture of love and/or friendship. So, if you haven't yet figured out what to get or make for your friends and/or family for Valentine's Day, a tin of these cookies might just be the most perfect unexpected surprise!

But don't just make them for Valentine's Day. Put these epic shortbread cookies (with or without the chocolate) on repeat. 

Recipe

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

Makes at least 16-24 cookies, depending on size

Ingredients

3/4 pound (339g) unsalted European style butter, room temperature (see notes)

1 cup (200g) granulated sugar, plus more for finishing the cookies

1 Tablespoon good quality vanilla (e.g., Nielsen-Massey)

3 1/2 cups (455g) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

10-12 ounces milk or dark melting chocolate (e.g., use chocolate disks from sold at some candy stores or use the Ghiradelli melting chocolate, do not use chocolate chips)

Sprinkles

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper set aside.

2. Sift together the flour and Kosher salt. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the butter, sugar and vanilla on low speed, just until combined (do not whip).

4. Add the dry ingredients in two batches, mixing just until the dough comes together. Large clumps should form.

5. On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the dough to 3/8" thickness. Cut out using 2" - 3" sized cookie cutters (hearts make for gorgeous cookies). Note: Before rolling out the dough, gently shape into a ball, then flatted to about an inch thickness before rolling out. I did not need to chill the dough before rolling it out. But if your dough is soft for some reason, chill only for 10 minutes before rolling out.

6. Carefully transfer the cookies to one of the baking sheets. Space the cookies at least one inch apart as they will expand slightly as they bake. Lightly sprinkle with granulated sugar

7. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the edges just begin to brown. Remove the pan from the oven but keep the cookies on the pan. Immediately some additional spoon granulated sugar over each cookie (or over only half of the cookie if you are dipping in melted chocolate). Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet. When the cookies cool, shake off the excess sugar.

8. Repeat with remaining dough.

9. Melt chocolate (using either the microwave or double boiler method). Dip half of the cooled cookies into the melted chocolate. Optional: Put the remaining melted chocolate into a piping bag and pipe decoratively on the cookies. Before the chocolate sets, add the sprinkles, if using. Allow the cookies to set completely.

10. Serve the cookies room temperature. Store the cookies in a sealed container at room temperature or wrap in cellophane bags.

Notes: (1) I used Kerrygold unsalted butter and highly recommend. It's higher butterfat content helps to create the most flavorful shortbread as well as a dough with a great rolling out consistency. However, if you don't have access to a European-style butter, use a good quality unsalted butter. (2) It is not necessary to chill the dough before rolling it out. It rolls out beautifully. (3) I used these heart cookie cutters from Williams-Sonoma.(4) I have made these shortbread cookies more than a half dozen times. Each time they came out as perfect as the first time.