Family Peace Cookies

Cookies and milk....more specifically double chocolate cookies and milk can make anyone's day, wouldn't you agree? But these, these! Friends, these cookies are a category of bliss unto themselves. Initially crisp, they crumble into melty goodness in the mouth. They are deep and rich and full-flavored, which comes, in part, from the healthy pinch of sea salt in the batter. I first came across these cookies, known to some as "World Peace Cookies," at my sister-in-law's home last weekend. She found the recipe here, but I've seen it here and here too.

I think I'll call them "Family Peace" cookies because in my experience, they can transform the grumpiest kids (and moms) into almost unrecognizable giddy, smiling fools. They can erase pain and suffering faster than an epidural....and they have fewer side effects too....except for the small matter that you might be temporarily blissed out and unable to think straight.

"What were we just arguing about?" "Um.....I have no idea....please pass another cookie."

Because the recipe doesn't call for eggs, the dough is sandy. Don't freak out. When you mix it, it won't seem to want to come together. Turn it out onto your work surface and pat the crumbly mess into two balls of dough. This part doesn't look too pretty....especially after you roll them into logs, if you know what I mean. The logs get refrigerated for a few hours, then are sliced and baked until they are barely set. In fact, they won't look done at all. Again, don't freak out and trust the recipe.





What you end up with are small cookies that are so achingly scrumptious that you will barely be able to contain yourself. They are so tempting that I found myself eating them straight out of the oven so that they sizzled a little on my tongue. I recommend that you have a cold glass of milk handy, even if they are cooled, to wash down all that chocolate. Bake one batch during the day to enjoy with the kids, but save the other one for your late night snack. Or maybe even share the mind-blowing bliss with your Valentine....nothing says I love you like a homemade treat.



Double Chocolate Crumble Cookies
A.K.A. Family Peace Cookies
A.K.A. World Peace Cookies

Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 22 minutes, plus 3 hours cooling time
Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons (11 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup (packed) brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer is fine), beat the butter until soft. Add the sugars, salt and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about two minutes.

Carefully add the flour mixture a little at a time, mixing slowly so you don't get flour all over the place. Dorie recommends covering the mixer with a towel for awhile to help with the spraying flour. Mix until the dough looks evenly incorporated, but still crumbly. When you pinch it with your fingers it will stay together though. Do not overmix!

Turn the dough out onto a work surface and pat into two balls. Wrap each ball in plastic and roll it into a log that is about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The plastic will help hold it together as it still may be a bit crumbly. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Unwrap the log and cut into slices that are about 1/2 an inch thick. If the cookies break apart, just press them back together with your fingers. Place cookies on a greased cookie sheet (or a silicone lined one) about 1 inch apart. Slide the cookie sheet onto the center rack of the oven and bake for exactly 12 minutes. The cookies will look underdone. That is okay. Remove them from the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes on the pan, then transfer them to a rack to finish cooling completely.