Black Forest Chocolate Cookies

Black Forest Chocolate Cookies

Sneaking in under the wire. It’s still Groundhog Day. And all I can think of is Bill Murray sitting in a Punxsatawney diner, stuffing his face full of donuts with impunity.

According to the groundhog, we have six more weeks of winter coming, which makes me want to stuff my face with donuts, too. Only I know that if I do, I won’t start the next day as if nothing happened. Impunity for gluttonous digressions is not part of my Groundhog Day reality.

Wanting something decadent, but reasonably healthy, I decided to make some chocolate cookies. Looking in my cupboards I found what I needed. Cocoa is always low-fat, dried cherries are full of antioxidants and nuts are good for you. Add a glass of milk and it’s practically a whole meal.

Since this batch of cookies won’t reappear in a magical Ground-Hog-Day loop, I’ll enjoy them the first time around. Do you have a go-to food on gray days?

Black Forest Chocolate Cookies

Makes 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp almond flavouring (optional)
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup strong black coffee, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries (or dried cranberries)
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds (or chopped hazelnuts)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. In a large bowl beat butter and sugar until creamy.
  3. Add egg and flavourings. Beat until smooth.
  4. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
  5. Stir flour mixture and coffee into the butter.
  6. Add the dried cherries and nuts. Stir to distribute evenly.
  7. Drop by spoonful (I used a tiny cookie dough scoop) onto a lightly greased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.
  8. Bake 12 minutes or until the sides have set. You want the middles a bit under-baked to be chewy. If you prefer a more cake-like cookie, bake an extra minute or two.
  9. Remove cookies from sheet and cool on a wire rack.

14 Comments
  • Robin Smart
    Posted at 19:20h, 02 February

    I’d be happy to taste test these for you. They sound yummy!
    Love from your always hungry sister,
    Robin

  • dining table
    Posted at 04:16h, 03 February

    They sound so yummy! Everything that is black forest is perfect for me.

  • The Diva on a Diet
    Posted at 12:11h, 03 February

    This is my kind of meal and sure-fire way to brighten a gray day. Now if only I could get someone to brew me some strong coffee so I could make these! 😉

    I am going to make these … as soon as I can figure out how to make coffee. I’m not kidding. They look fantastic, Charmian.

    My go-to food for a gray day is usually something hearty like chili or good old spaghetti and meatballs.
    .-= The Diva on a Diet´s last blog ..Hibernation =-.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 12:17h, 03 February

    The good news is that because the coffee is baked into the cookie and fighting with cocoa, you don’t need a great cup of coffee, just a strong one. I know coffee lovers will slap me when I say this, but instant espresso comes in handy at times like this.

    Spaghetti and meatballs? Sounds great. I’ll be over with a bottle of Chianti… (I wish!)

  • Dana McCauley
    Posted at 12:57h, 03 February

    These cookies look just awful. Allow me to send a courier over to your house and take them off your hands so that you don’t have to cope with them any longer. I’m happy to help you out…

    Regrettably, almost every food is a go to it food for me on grey days. I’m really falling into some slovenly, indulgent habits these days. Must start exercising and showing restraint….tomorrow.
    .-= Dana McCauley´s last blog ..7 delicious Valentine’s Day gifts for your man =-.

  • Cheryl@5secondrule
    Posted at 14:24h, 03 February

    That Dana. She’s so selfless, isn’t she?

    I find I crave soup, and dairy (pudding, especially), when the weather is bad and I seek culinary comfort. Cookies? Those I crave regardless of what’s happening outside.
    .-= Cheryl@5secondrule´s last blog ..Sriracha =-.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 14:35h, 03 February

    Dana, you are always so considerate. But I’ll save you the expense and get rid of these horrid things myself.

    I did exercise today, but restraint? Perhaps after this weekend. I have some social commitments that involve food and don’t want to disappoint my hosts.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 14:38h, 03 February

    I’m with you on the soup! Roasted vegetable especially. Perhaps it’s the added cream.

    I’ve never been a huge pudding fan, but wonder if a homemade butterscotch pudding might cure these winter blahs. Do you have a recipe, oh Pudding Queen?

  • Jill
    Posted at 22:44h, 03 February

    @Charmian Christie, You beat me to it. I keep a jar of instant espresso on hand for exactly this reason.

    And I have real coffee. For me.

    Jill

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 15:22h, 04 February

    Your my kind of coffee drinker, Jill. Discerning yet practical.

  • Cheryl Arkison
    Posted at 15:24h, 04 February

    Um, you forgot the chocolate chunks in those cookies. I agree, Dana should take those off your hands and you can make a new batch to send me.

    And Jill, I HATE coffee, so even in a recipe like this I don’t use it. Water or tea, or even milk often make a fine substitution. (Don’t shoot me Charmian.)
    .-= Cheryl Arkison´s last blog ..Tuesday Quiz =-.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 15:42h, 04 February

    Cheryl, I won’t shoot you. I’ll just drink your share of the coffee.

    I don’t think skipping the coffee will break this recipe. And if you add dark chocolate chunks, you’ll win back some of what you lost. Let’s call it even and enjoy some salted caramel ice cream. I think we all agree on that!!

  • Sophie
    Posted at 05:28h, 05 February

    Georgous & ooh so tasty looking cookies, dear friend!

    Now, I would like to taste at least 3 of them with my midday coffee!
    .-= Sophie´s last blog ..Sophie’s quinoa, banana & pecan smoothie =-.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 10:10h, 06 February

    Sophie, if you lived closer I’d make you a whole batch — all for yourself.