Flourless Fudge Cookies

There are some days where you just need to bake or cook or create something tangible with your bare hands. On those days where you feel just plain old shitty, I find one of two things helps: making something in the kitchen, or re-reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (especially the QWC campsite scenes).

I haven't baked anything since the honey lemon poppyseed cake, but I'm happy to say I've cooked a lot and have at least also made more of an effort to try new savoury recipes. I'm still contemplating sharing those as they seem pretty basic, but whatever, this is my blog and my outlet, right? I'll write what I want, and hopefully what I write helps somebody else too.

This weekend was Father's Day weekend, so I cooked up a bit of a frenzy today. Made dad a lemon Victoria sponge trifle (cream and curd were too runny, so I stuffed everything into a trifle bowl and added more cream and curd), taught dad how to make his own beef burger patties (and hence had a bit of a burger party at home), and this last one was for myself... I made these little fudgy chocolate cookies that really bear absolutely no resemblance to any cookies I've ever made or had. They're little imposters; just pieces of fudge pretending to be cookies and therefore harmless.

They're easy enough to whip up, and I kind of freaking love them, so thought I'd put it up for my own safekeeping (sincerely doubt anybody still reads this blog considering my lack of discipline in updating it).

Flourless Fudge Cookies
Makes 30 large, hand sized cookies

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 5 large egg whites
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
• Sea salt flakes to top (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line 2 or 3 baking tins with parchment paper
2. Combine the sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a large mixing bowl, then add the egg whites and vanilla extract. Stir to wet the ingredients, don't worry... it really is meant to be that sticky and tough to handle 
3. Stir in the chocolate chips
4. Dollop 1 tablespoon sized bits of the batter onto the tins, be sure to space them quite generously as these things will spread. (edit: upon tasting these again, I'd say add some sea salt flakes on top before baking to counter the sweetness) Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the tops are glossy and crack a little like in the photos 
5. Remove from the oven and cool completely on the tins. Don't attempt to move them too early, they stick to the paper and you'll end up leaving half the cookie on the tin. Store in an airtight container

C is for Cookie

Everyone and their mother has been baking and decorating these little Cookie Monster cupcakes, which I'm sure you've seen on one of the many social network platforms throughout the web. I think I first saw these two years ago on Tumblr, but who are we kidding? These have been baked to death, but they're still effing adorable!

A friend of mine recently put in an order for several Cookie Monster cupcakes, in chocolate chip flavour. I'm  going to share the cupcake recipe, though I wish I'd taken better pictures. The cupcakes themselves were amazing, fresh out of the oven. Soft, fluffy, and tasted just like a chocolate chip cookie should.

I have to admit that I scoured the internet for a good choc chip cupcakes recipe, but was put off by the first few ones I found as they involved separating eggs. ARGH. I was being lazy... and after an extra hour of searching to no avail, I decided to go on with the Martha Stewart recipe. Here ya go:

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

• 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 200g unsalted butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup plus 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 5 large egg whites, room temperature
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 180C and line your cupcake tins, set aside
2. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside
3. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, then continue beating while slowly pouring in the milk and vanilla
4. Beat the flour in until just combined
5. Then in a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form (I did this before anything else then put the egg whites aside) and fold into the batter
6. Fold in the chocolate chips
7. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove and cool completely

You may choose to stop there, and eat as is with a glass of milk while they're still warm. Or, let them cool completely and frost with some cream cheese frosting coloured blue using a grass tip. I rolled out ready-made Satin Ice white fondant for the eyes, then dotted on eyes with edible food marker. Then just press in half a mini chocolate chip cookie where the mouth should be.