Vanilla Cookies with Chunky Chocolate

 Hearty vanilla cookies loaded with chunks and chunks of chocolate bites, oh cookies you are so wonderful

I have been on cookies quest so how come the amazing vanilla cookies loaded with chocolate chunk could be missed. The best things about these cookies is their wonderful taste and texture, chewy yet soft. Couple of important things to remember, do not over mix the dough and chilling for at least 3 hours. It’s advised to use egg for the wonderful chewiness in cookies but I avoid it as much as I could and replace it with curd. Please try to use thick curd and not runny one. Have everything at room temperature before you start working on you cookies. I can keep writing about how wonderful these cookies look and taste, but like to leave you just there with the recipe, try yourself and let me know.

2 cup Flour

½ cup Granular Sugar

½ cup Brown Sugar

½ cup Butter

½ cup Curd

½ Teaspoon Baking Soda

½ Teaspoon Baking Powder

½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 Cup chopped dark chocolate

Cream the butter for 2mins until light and then add both the sugars. Beat till its light and pale in color. Add curd and vanilla extract and beat for another minute.

Shift the flour, baking soda and baking power together. Add the chopped chocolate chunks

Add this dry mixture in the wet mix small amount at a time and mix till the all of the flour mixture is incorporated. You will get a dough, which is quite easy to handle. If you find yours too sticky don’t worry and if its too hard you and sprinkle a tablespoon milk to loosen it up. Try not to over work the dough, you will not get the right texture

 

Bring the dough together by gently working on it and make a ball, wrap it with cling film and keep in the refrigerator for chilling for at least three hours

Pre-heat the oven at 180 Degree C

Take out the dough from refrigerator and make 11-12 dough balls. Line the baking tray with baking paper and place them slighting apart from each other

You might need to press the dough balls a bit to help them get the cookie shape sooner if the dough it too hard after chilling

Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden in color

Festive warmth of Christmas, bit spiced with Spice Date Cake

The breeze is getting cold, sun is not shining that bright and streets are still filled with red, white and golden sights. They all are hinting unanimously that Christmas has just gone by and new year  is around the corner. I love all the festivals (as everyone does) because they bring the hustle bustle and zing back with them to infuse happiness and cheers in our “Running as usual” life.

My memories of Christmas and new year are of long vacations, chili winters of north India. Red was synonym of the season as  most of the kids use to sport red sweaters. Another thought that strikes in my head is the aroma of freshly baked cake and cookies. As most of the Indian households don’t expertise in baking at home so we also use to get our cakes from nearby bakery.

But now I make sure to bake a cake at home and float in warm misty aroma of my Date and spiced cake. This is a very English cake and perfect of cozy winter evenings. Hope you’ll like it.

Spicy Date Cake

Flour – 1 Cup/225 gm

Baking Soda – ¾  tsp

Bicorbonate – ¾ tsp

Butter – 100gm

Sugar – 175 gm

Date – 225 gm

Black Tea – 125 ml

Egg – 3

Vanila – 1 tsp

Spice mix (Cinnamon, Ginger, Black Paper powder) – 1 tsp

·         Preheat oven at 180 degree Celsius.

·         Line the tin with butter and flour.

·         Mix and sift all the dry ingredients together .

·         In prepared black tea add the chopped date and cook for couple of minutes till the dates get bit soft

·         Beat the soft butter and sugar together till its light and fluffy.

·         Then add one egg at a time and beat lightly, add all three eggs.

·         Add the spice mix and vanilla and beat.

·         Now add the date mixture and fold in the dry mixture, adding small amount at a time.

·         Pour the batter in the tin and bake for 35 minutes.

Enjoy!!