February 1, 2017

Soft chocolate frosted cookies

We've come to February (already)!  I can't seem to let the second month of the year slip away without taking advantage of upcoming Valentine's Day to present a chocolate treat here on the blog.  Truth be told, we're still working our way through our stash of chocolates and biscuits from Christmas.  On top of that, we have treats from Chinese New Year so there is really very little need for making chocolate cookies except it's certainly not about need...
A batch of soft chocolate cookies, frosted with creamy chocolate frosting, and decorated with a few Valentine's Day sprinkles is an easy way to say "Happy Valentine's Day".  I think it's particularly cute for kids so I made them with my son and his cousins in mind.  I also had my husband in mind; he's a big kid at heart, with a bigger sweet tooth than most children, so he got a fair share of these.

You might know I'm always looking for an excuse to try a different chocolate recipe of some kind!  This one came my way via Mel's Kitchen Cafe.  When I saw "super soft" chocolate cookies, with chocolate frosting, I thought my family would enjoy them and I wanted to give it a try.  Apparently, these cookies are a homemade rendition of "Swig" cookies.  I have no personal knowledge but it seems Swig is a sweet shop in Utah and their signature Swig soft sugar cookies have a big following.  
I just saw super-soft chocolate sugar cookies and thought my husband, who prefers thick, soft cookies above all else in terms of texture, would really dig them.  And true to the description, as long as you make sure not to over-bake them, you end up with a chocolate sugar cookie that has a wonderfully unique soft texture.  The cookies might lean on the sweet side but there's also plenty of deep chocolate flavor to balance it out.  My fellas and I enjoyed them very much.  Though I've never heard of or had a Swig cookie before, there is a familiar flavor to these cookies that my husband and I had to smile at.  
You can leave your frosted chocolate cookies unadorned (the way my husband likes it) or I think it's great how you can essentially dress them up/customize them for any holiday with some sprinkles!  So make these cookies for no particular reason or for a holiday like Valentine's Day, Easter, or Halloween by simply mixing up the decorations you place on top.  How fun and versatile is that! 
I packed a few of the cookie individually in small clear cellophane bags, sealed with a heart-shaped sticker, to give to my nephews and niece as a little early Valentine's Day treat.  It's a fun little gesture - I think it's always nice to spread the love with cookies. I also think if there's any group of people who deserve love and sweetness on Valentine's Day (and any other day), it's got to be kids!  


I half expected the cookie dough to turn out a bit dry, maybe needing a spoonful of milk to bind it smoothly together (adding a touch of milk is what I typically do to my regular sugar cookie dough) but the dough was surprisingly soft and tender to the touch.  The use of butter as well as oil, and confectioners' sugar, makes an interesting soft texture.  It was a good indication of how the cookies would turn out and taste after baking.
Make these cookies any size you want.  Just take some of the dough and gently roll it into a ball.  In my case, I took about 2 generous tablespoons of dough per cookie.  Then, press the bottom of a glass with some sugar and use that to press down onto each cookie ball so that it's a little more than 1/4 inch thick.  Instructions are clear to bake the cookies for no more than 8-9 minutes; the cookies will still be very soft.  Let them cool and set a few minutes on the baking sheet before lifting to a cooling rack.  The cookies don't spread very much during baking.
A quick note on the cocoa powder used in this recipe.  You can use either natural or the darker Dutch-process cocoa.  Using what I had around the house, I actually mixed the two in the cookies and used Dutch-process in the frosting.  In general, I wanted a deeper chocolate color to my cookies. 

I made half the recipe and got 17 cookies from my batch.  While the cookies are cooling, whip up the chocolate frosting so you can get to the fun part of frosting them!
Then, just leave them plain...
...or embellish them with sprinkles for the occasion you want to celebrate.
As promised, these chocolate sugar cookies are soft and tender, full of sweetness and chocolate flavor.  I stored extra cookies in the refrigerator and brought them to room temperature before eating.  They stayed soft for the 2 days we spent enjoying them, and I think they would keep well for a couple more days on top of that. 
Enjoy February, and upcoming Valentine's Day!

Recipe:

Soft Frosted Chocolate Cookies
From Mel's Kitchen Cafe, who adapted these Swig-style cookies from The Faux Martha

- Makes approximately 16-18 cookies, depending on size - 

For cookies
2 cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (2 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (4.6 ounces) granulated sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1.5 ounces) powdered sugar
1/3 cup neutral-flavored oil (I used canola)
1 large egg
Granulated sugar, for rolling

For frosting
1/2 stick (2 ounces) butter, softened
1 cup (4 ounces) powdered sugar, divided 
Small pinch of salt
1/4 cup (1 ounce) unsweetened cocoa powder, natural or Dutch-process, sifted (to avoid lumps in the frosting)
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sprinkles, for decorating (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon baking mats.

Make cookies: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. 

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter together with the granulated and powdered sugars until light and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the oil and egg, mixing until combined.  On low speed, add the dry ingredients and mix until dough comes together, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.  You should end up with a firm, soft dough that's not dry or overly wet either.

Form dough balls (I used about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough each) and place on to baking sheets, a few inches apart.  Place a couple of tablespoons of granulated sugar into a small bowl or dish.  Dip a flat-bottomed glass into the sugar (rubbing the bottom of the glass with a little oil or butter will help the sugar adhere) then press the glass into the cookie, flattening it to about 1/4 inch or slightly thicker.  Repeat with all dough balls.

Bake for 8-9 minutes.  Do not overbake; the cookies should still be very soft in the middle but set at the edges.  Let cool on the baking sheet a few minutes before transferring cookies to a cooling rack.

Make frosting: Cream butter with 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.  Add remaining powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, and vanilla.  Mix for 2-3 minutes, until frosting is thick and creamy.

Spread frosting evenly on top of cookies with a small offset spatula.  Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.  Store cookies, covered in a airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.




35 comments:

  1. How yummy and delicious these chocolate frosted cookies look, Monica. These would make an awesome Valentine treat. I could just imagine having a couple of these for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee. Delicious.

    Anu
    http://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/

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    1. Anyone who wants to have a couple of chocolate cookies for breakfast is right up my alley! Love the sound of that. : )

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  2. These cookies would not last a day in our house!!! Wishing you a very safe and prosperous Chinese New Year Dear!!!

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    1. Happy Chinese New Year to you! There's such a great string of treats to enjoy between Dec. and February. : )

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  3. I would goggle these delicious cookies up right away! They look fantastic!

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  4. These are my kind of cookies Monica. So pretty with the frosting but they are probably terrific without too. Happy Chinese New Year!

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    1. Thanks, Tricia. So many treats, so little time. I can't stop making treats even with all the chocolate and candies we have around!

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  5. HI Monica, never heard of the Swig cookie before, they sound like something I would enjoy. These cookies are perfect for Valentine's day, love how you decorated them.

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    1. I'd never heard of it either but the description really got me...plus, anything with frosting feels extra special. : )

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  6. You know Monica, these cookies wouldn’t last one day in my house. Sweetheart (like your husband) is chocolate addict.
    Anyway, I ADORE your gesture "... pack a few of the cookie individually in small clear cellophane bags, sealed with a heart-shaped sticker."
    Actually, I tend to do the same thing for Xmas and Easter. So, while reading this post I had a large smile on my face. I love to have a peek into your life. Such a gorgeous lifestyle. And these cookies are yummy.

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    1. Believe it or not, no one is a bigger chocoholic than I am! Maybe I need to go out and meet more people but it's my serious non-human love. : )
      And you are very sweet...thank you for reading and appreciating the little gesture. I wish we were neighbors because you are just the kid of person I'd love to bake for. Thank you!

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    2. Ohhh Monica you are tooooo sweet :) I adore you :)

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  7. By simply looking at them I’m falling in love.The frosting looks so good over those amazing chocolate cookies.

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  8. These cookies look and sound great! Soft, chewy cookies are my favorite, with or without sprinkles!Though I haven't heard of Swig either, I am not surprised that they are copied from cookies with a following in Utah. I am learning that there is a lot of amazing food in Utah and a lot of Utah foodies (and bloggers) to sing its praises!

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    1. A little smear of frosting and a sprinkle of candy on top is about as good as I can get when it comes to decorating! I don't have your skills, Wendy.
      And isn't it wonderful how there's amazing food to be had everywhere now!

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  9. Feb. is definitely the chocolate month. This soft cookies look so lovely with frosting and the sprinkles.

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    1. Yes, I do love this little month. It brightens up the winter for me. ; )

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  10. I've never had swig cookies before too but now I really want to try! These cookies look amazing! I love soft cookies and with the frosting and pretty sprinkles - these are just perfect for Valentine's Day! So glad your fellas loved them too - I know mine would as well - these wouldn't last long at our house at all :)

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    1. Bring all all the pretty pink things for Valentine's Day, right, Kelly! ; ) Thanks and have a wonderful weekend...I hope you make a chocolate treat for your chocolate-loving hubby.

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  11. What a delightful Valentine's Day treat!

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    1. Thanks, Beth. I embrace any excuse to eat more chocolate. : )

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  12. I can just imagine the texture they came out. They look great and you've made me hungry!

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    1. Really soft and tender, plus plenty sweet and chocolaty. Cookies are happy food.

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  13. I haven't had any cookies since Christmas, you really make me drool... I love the sprinkles too, I always have some like these in the cupboard, my daughter just loves them. :)

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  14. I would love some double chocolate cookies! I like how these are frosted, and seem pretty easy to whip up. What a nice Valentine's Day treat <3

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    1. More and more chocolate for us, right, Bianca! : )

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  15. It is funny but thinking back, I don't think I've had what I would call a soft cookie. Usually they are crisp or chewy. Your cookies sound intriguingly good.

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    1. Karen, I keep seeing/hearing about lofthouse cookies and I've never had them...they are sort of thick, soft, cake-like cookies. I imagine something like these. Always something new to us to try! : )

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  16. Monica, these soft chocolate cookies look awesome, and I love how you flat them with a cup...thanks for the tip.
    I hope you are having a fantastic week :)

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    1. That was fun. It's always nice to try something of a different technique, even when it's just making cookies, to mix things up! Have a great upcoming weekend.

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  17. Cookies + chocolate Frosting = Happiness all the way! Love these. Gorgeous!

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    Replies
    1. I hear you - what's better than cookies than cookies with chocolate frosting!

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