Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

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Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

espresso chocolate shortbread cookies

I made these cookies as a going away present for my sister. She loves coffee, she loves shortbread, and she recently headed off to college as a first time freshman. As she seemed a bit nervous about making new friends (although she would never admit this), I thought cookies would be the perfect gift. She could lure new and exciting people into her life by bribing them in with baked goods. What better conversation starter is there than ”Hey, would you like a delicious cookie?” I thought this was ingenious. I thought I was oh so clever. Of course my plan backfired on me faster than you could say “milk and cookies.”

As my sister later informed me, she was able to bribe off one (only one?) cookie. What self respecting college students turn down free food? Much less free cookies?! Ohh, freshmen. They have got a lot to learn…

So now, as my sister eats them all by herself, she mourned that she is one step closer to gaining that freshman fifteen.

milk and cookies

Although seemingly snubbed by college freshman everywhere, these cookies are a fantastic representation of taking a basic shortbread recipe to the next level. These cookies still have that classic sandy texture shortbread is known for, but the espresso flavor is so distinct it redefines the entire cookie. The bittersweet chocolate points these cookies closer to a mocha flavor. I never had the chance to dip one of these in a hot cup of coffee, but I only have reason to believe it would be fantastic.
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Incredibly Moist Chocolate Prune Cake

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Incredibly Moist Chocolate Prune Cake

oh dear god moist cake

This cake should actually be named "Oh Lord Almighty, this is the moistest cake in the world." The first bite is pure ecstasy. The cake instantly melts into a moist mass of ooey gooey deliciousness the very second it hits your tongue. This is absolutely a religious experience. For a single moment in time, you will achieve true Enlightenment.

white chocolate shavings meet cake

I loved watching the facial expressions of my family when they took their first bites of this cake. In every case, there was a pause for reflection. The chewing stops. My mother's eyes widened with Truth. My sister stood stock still for a solid 10 seconds. My father closed (closed!) his eyes in reverence of this great cake. When I claimed this was a religious experience, it was not an exaggeration.

triple threat

I want to write sonnets about this cake. I want to compose a piece of classical music to the dining experience. I want to make love to this cake. As I sit here writing and eating, I can assure you that by the eighth bite I'm still seeing stars.

mini cakes filled with delight
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Roasted Cherry Coconut Ice Cream

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Roasted Cherry Coconut Ice Cream

roasted cherry coconut ice cream

I tried my first real cherry a week ago.

My childhood had been scarred by cherry flavored medicine. My parents could only make me take it if cookies were promised and in full view. I will argue that it is the single worst thing I have ever tasted. From that point on, I avoided cherry popsicles, cherry koolaid... anything that even looked red (including holiday oreos with red colored filling). I had always assumed that real cherries would have that same awful overly sweet bitter taste. At the ripe age of 22, I figured it was time to find out the truth.

Real cherries tasted nothing like the branded generic cherry flavor. It was a revelation! An inspiration! I indulged in the flavor, the texture, and the intricacies of this new and exciting fruit (eating half a pound in the process). Then and there, the fates decided that cherries would have a presence in my life.

This roasted cherry coconut ice cream is absolutely divine. It is so easy to make and tastes gourmet. The roasted cherries are sweet and glorious and I can't stop talking about them. The ice cream itself has a fairly intense coconut flavor and can stand alone if need be, but the cherries really round out the flavors in the ice cream. This is, quite possibly, the best ice cream I have ever eaten.

roasted cherry coconut ice cream
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