Cookies

Salted Caramel {Cocoa} Cookies

February 25, 2011

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I’m definitely missing Mexico. The hot weather ( it was -3 here in Vancouver yesterday ) the delicious food ( back to yogurt and oatmeal for breakfast ) and the beach hammocks. Yup I could go for another vacation right about now…

I didn’t back too much before we left, having to get into a bathing suit and all. But now that we’re back I wanted to use my new camera and bake something delicious. That, and Adam asked for cookies about the minute we got home. I had been thinking about this recipe for quite a while now but had not tested it out yet.

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I had received these packets of Starbucks Hot Cocoa a week or so before we left. Now, their not just any cocoa mix, their Salted Caramel hot cocoa. I’m not a coffee drinker at all, so I hardly frequent Starbucks. I also don’t drink a lot of hot chocolate either. I’ll drink tea on occasion but I’m most likely to pour myself a giant glass of ice water or perhaps juice. Hot drinks just aren’t my thing. I think I just can’t justify all the calories in those super-sweet coffee drinks or even drinking a glass of hot chocolate. I am however partial to their summer cold tea drinks, like their Black Tea Lemonade. Mmm… Now I’m definitely wishing for summer!

Now for the cookies. I usually go for the regular chocolate chip cookie, but I was for some reason craving the double-chocolate cookie taste of cocoa cookies. I figured I could just substitute the cocoa for a package or two of the Starbucks hot chocolate mix. Now, I used two packages but topped it off with regular cocoa to make the 3/4 cup.

These cookies are chewy, chocolate-y and addicting. I may or may not have eaten about 10 yesterday for breakfast and lunch. But I had salmon for dinner, so it equals it out. Right? I think so. Thankfully I was able to give some to our friends on the first floor. Who knows how many I’ll have eaten by tonight. The funny thing is I was craving a tall glass of cold milk with these, and I have not had milk for two months now. I found out I have a slight allergy when I was younger and I’ve recently decided to stay away from it seeing as how it makes me feel sick. Which means no cereal. Now for those who don’t know me well, cereal was my life. I would have a bowl for breakfast, and often a bowl for lunch most every day. I could eat a box of special K in a week, maybe even shorter. So to give up cereal was hard. I haven’t switch to any almond milk or soy, just because I don’t like the taste and I’m finding it’s not so bad to not drink milk. I’ve had oatmeal for breakfast, made with hot water, and get calcium from cheese and other foods. So the glass of milk was merely a prop. But how I craved it, and I’m certain it would be a perfect pair to these double-chocolate cookies.

They aren’t overly sweet by any means, just the perfect amount. I think I got about 2-3 dozen out of the recipe. I also got to use some of my 100% pure vanilla extract that I brought back from Mexico. I bought two large bottles!

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Salted Caramel {Cocoa} Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cups butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour {you can use AP if you like}
  • 2 packages Starbucks Salted Caramel Cocoa { + regular Cocoa to equal 3/4 cup total }
  • 1 cup chocolate chunks {or chocolate chips}
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs + vanilla
  3. In separate bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa/cocoa packages and baking soda; gradually mix into the creamed butter mixture in stand mixture with paddle attachment.
  4. Pour in chocolate chunks and mix until incorporated.
  5. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet/greased cookie pan. { use less dough for thinner cookies, and more for thicker cookies }
  6. Bake 9-11 minutes.
  7. Let set and cool on cookie sheet, then remove from sheet onto wire rack to cool completely. { I usually have two cookies sheets going so one can cool while I place another in the oven }

Cookies will keep in storage for a few days { That is, if they last that long! }

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2 Comments

  • Reply Sharlene February 25, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    These sound amazing. I wish I had a plate in front of me right now!

  • Reply Alicia February 25, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Thanks! haha a plateful is dangerous! Believe me hehe =) But they are super delicious

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