Crust Bakery

Mocha Cookies

Last Year, The L.A. Times Food Section published a recipe from "Some Crust Bakery" located in Claremont. I was called to this recipe not simply because it was a cookie recipe, but for the picture of the large chocolaty crusty cookie that went with the recipe. I wish I had a picture to share with you, however the scan did not do the cookie justice.

They're soft, rich and dark, studded with chunks of chocolate.

Some Crust Bakery Mocha Cookies
Total time: 1 hour
Servings: Makes about 20(3 1/2 -inch) cookies

Note: Some Crust chef Jack Housen uses Guittard unsweetened and bittersweet (70%) cacao chocolate (available at Sur La Table) but you can substitute another top quality chocolate such as Scharffen Berger and Valrhona with the same percentage of cacao.

4 1/2 ounces (99% to 100%) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
4 eggs
3 tablespoons instant espresso
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup pastry flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into 1/2 -inch chunks

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan over low heat, combine the unsweetened chocolate, bittersweet chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally until melted. Remove from the heat.

2. Combine the eggs, espresso and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and mix on low speed, scraping the bowl as needed, until blended, then on high speed until the mixture becomes lighter in color and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the melted chocolate mixture (do not cool it beforehand) and beat on medium speed until just mixed with the batter.

3. Add the pastry flour, baking powder and salt and beat at medium-low until just mixed in, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the chocolate chunks.

4. Spoon one-fourth cup batter per cookie onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until set, about 15 minutes. Cool for a few minutes, then remove to a rack to cool completely.

Each cookie: 287 calories; 4 grams protein; 34 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams fiber; 19 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 54 mg. cholesterol; 51 mg. sodium.

(Original post April 8, 2005 Food Got To Love It)