DOUBLE CHOCOLATE PEPPER COOKIES

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE PEPPER COOKIES image

Yield Approximately 2 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 12

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2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs
8 ounces of high quality semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate
(Ghirardelli or Lindt) in bar or chip form

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Cream the butter in the bowl of a stand-mixer with paddle attachment until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add sugar to butter and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down sides once or twice. Add vanilla and eggs and beat until incorporated, about 1 minute. Add the sifted dry ingredients in three equal batches, beating until incorporated after each addition. (Dough will be a little sticky but stiff.) Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Top each cookie with a chunk of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate (or 5 or 6 chips). Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until firm to the touch. Allow to cool to the touch before sampling, preferably with a glass of rich red wine! (Cool for several hours on a rack to allow the chocolate on top to set before stacking to store. Can be made several days in advance.)