by sdebrango
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Annie "Smalls"'s Testing Notes:
Expand Collapsesdebrango's Notes:
Expand1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature Ask a question about this ingredient
1/2 cup good quality shortening at room temperature (I like spectrum) Ask a question about this ingredient
1 cup sugar Ask a question about this ingredient
1/2 teaspoon baking soda Ask a question about this ingredient
1/4 teaspoon salt Ask a question about this ingredient
1 large egg at room temperature Ask a question about this ingredient
2 tablespoons whole milk or half and half Ask a question about this ingredient
1 teaspoon vanilla extract Ask a question about this ingredient
3 cups all purpose flour Ask a question about this ingredient
zest of one orange Ask a question about this ingredient
1/3 cup (1.5 oz)semi sweet chocolate melted (use the microwave method it's great) Ask a question about this ingredient
1/4 teaspoon cardamom Ask a question about this ingredient
1/2 cup toasted walnuts chopped finely Ask a question about this ingredient
In mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment for approximately 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking soda and salt and beat until combined. Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla. Add flour and mix to combine with spoon. Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 30 second intervals stirring in between. It took me 60 seconds.
Ask a question about this stepDivide dough in half. Knead the melted chocolate and walnuts into half of the dough and then the cardamom and orange zest into the other half. Line a 9x5x3 loaf pan with plastic wrap. Divide chocolate dough in half and press into the bottom of the loaf pan, now divide the vanilla dough in half and press on top of chocolate layer, now another chocolate layer and finish with the vanilla layer. Cover with the plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
Ask a question about this stepRemove from refrigerator, invert onto cutting board and remove plastic wrap. Divide into 3 equal pieces (each is 3 inches) and cut each third into 12 equal pieces that are about 1/4 inch thick. Place on baking sheet with either parchment or silpat and bake for 10-12 minutes turning baking sheet around halfway through baking (5 minutes) CAREFUL NOT TO OVERBAKE remove from oven when edges start to turn a light brown. If you leave them in longer than the prescribed baking time they become over done and are really crunchy. I took out my batch of cookies at 11 minutes. They were just right. Its almost counterintuitive but it's important for this recipe to adhere to the bake time.
Ask a question about this stepI 'm not a fan of shortening either. Honestly I have never tried it with all butter. I think using butter and no shortening will be fine. Please let me know how it works. All butter in my opinion will make them taste even better. I don't know texture wise what impact it will have but I think it should work. I used spectrum shortening which is not quite as objectionable.
Lovely!
Can't wait to try these! They look incredible. Orange and Cardamom is my favorite combo!
Thanks so much Hilarybee, its one of my favorite combinations also and the chocolate really seems to bring out both. If you do try them I hope you enjoy!
Thank you so much Ms. T, I can't wait to try your wonderful brittle.
Congrats on having your recipe tested and photographed by the editors! These cookies look fabulous, and the flavors are right up my alley! Saved!
Thank you so much, they are a great cookie. I used the same dough for shaped cookies. Its very versatile.
Just got a chance to sample these, and wanted to say they are delicious. The chocolate and orange flavors are perfectly balanced. The cardamom is subtle. The texture is spot-on for my memory of ribbon cookies. Nicely done, sdebrango!
I'd have to omit the nuts, but am thinking they would still be pretty wonderful!! I love chocolate-cardamom-orange combo. One of my favorites!
Yes I often omit nuts they are just as good. I was just looking at your cardamom orange klueg.... can't spell it but its beautiful and I must try that. You are so right the combination is wonderful.
I got that mixed up the kugelhopf is thirschfelds. Could have sworn it was your recipe, Anyway it is a great combo,
No worries! I wish it was mine. I've made it and it's wonderful!
I love the little pieces of zest and nut weaving through the cookies. They sound lovely and I am adding them to my gift boxes!
Thank you Bevi, they are delicious and you can vary the additions to suite your taste.
Gorgeous! And they sound stupendously delicious too!
They are beautiful (just like hla says). How does one go about ordering one of these gift boxes? :) That might be a fun thing to do - organize a food52 cookie swap! Love cardamom, it's good in sweets and savories.
I totally love that idea, I told hardlikearmour I would trade a box of my cookies for a box of her delicious caramels. Thank you Niknud and if it could be organized that would be a wonderful idea.
Thank you so much! I just love the holidays, baking these cookies is so much fun.
Which reminds me, did you get the message I sent you? If not, please message me so we can exchange addresses!
These are beautiful! The people on the receiving end of your gift boxes are lucky indeed.
Ken is an award-winning executive chef and owner of seven Boston area restaurants: Clio, Toro, Uni, Coppa, KO Prime, La Verdad and Earth.
Cookies look lovely! I'm not a fan of shortening and was wondering whether I could substitute with butter.