World Peace Cookies

These cookies aren’t just good. They’re gooooooood. In fact, in one of her cookbooks, world-renowned baker Dorie Greenspan, nicknamed these delectable chocolate cookies “World Peace Cookies.” She says, “If everyone had it, peace would reign o’er the planet. I’m convinced of this.” And since it seems our world could always use an extra dose of peace and love, this recipe seemed fitting to share. These cookies are shortbread-like and mixed with chopped up bits of chocolate. If you try one, you’ll know exactly why they’re named World Peace Cookies.  

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 11 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chips, or a generous 3/4 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips

 

---

DIRECTIONS

Sift the flour, cocoa and baking soda together.

In a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add both sugars, the salt and vanilla extract and beat for 2 minutes more.

Turn off the mixer. Pour in the flour mixture and pulse the mixer at low speed about 5 times, a second or two each time. Continuing at low speed, mix for about 30 seconds more, just until the flour disappears into the dough — for the best texture, work the dough as little as possible once the flour is added, and don’t be concerned if the dough looks a little crumbly. Toss in the chocolate pieces and mix only to incorporate.

Turn the dough onto a work surface, gather it together and divide it in half. Working with one half at a time, shape the dough into logs that are 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 3 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. If you’ve frozen the dough, you needn’t defrost it before baking — just slice the logs into cookies and bake the cookies 1 minute longer.)

When you’re ready to bake:

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.

Working with a sharp thin knife, slice the logs into rounds that are 1/2 inch thick. The rounds are very likely to crack as you’re cutting them — don’t be alarmed, just squeeze the bits back together onto each cookie. Arrange the rounds on the baking sheets, leaving about one inch between them.

Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 12 minutes — they won’t look done, nor will they be firm, but that’s just the way they should be. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies rest until they are only just warm, at which point you can serve them or let them reach room temperature. Either way, enjoy!