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Outrageous chocolate cookies - these cookies are packed with chocolate and have amazing texture!
Called outrageous chocolate cookies, these cookies definitely deserve their name for being outrageously attractive. The pictures don't even do them justice: these cookies look really pretty in real life, like small pieces of cake covered in a very thin layer of chocolate. If you want an easy to make cookie that's all chocolate and yet looks attractive and tastes like a soft and chewy piece of a very good chocolate cake - try these, I beg you!
Even though these cookies are very easy to make, you're dealing with melting the chocolate here, and that could affect your success with these outrageous chocolate cookies. This cookie got multiple raving reviews on Martha Stewart site, but a lot of commentators had issues like having a cookie dough that's too thin, and, as a result, cookies spreading too flat during baking resulting in not so attractive look (while still tasting good).
The original recipe calls for semisweet chocolate chunks, but any type of chocolate chips, chunk, or morsels will work.
Common baking problems and how to avoid them
When making these chocolate outrageous cookies, the common problems and questions are:
How to avoid runny cookies?
How to make sure the cookies don't spread too much?
What makes cookies flat and how to avoid it?
To avoid all of the above, the important thing is not to over melt the chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate in microwave in 20 seconds increments to keep checking so that you melt it just enough to mix with other ingredients - don't let the chocolate get too runny. DO NOT OVER MELT THE CHOCOLATE.
- Melted chocolate should have the consistency of a thick frosting (not a liquid) before you add it to the flour mixture.
- If it's too runny, let it cool a little before adding it in.
- The cookie dough in the end should not be thin. If it is thin, let the cookie dough stand for a while to harden - by letting the melted chocolate harden in the cookie dough. The resulting cookie dough should look like a cookie dough (hardened) and not like a cake batter (runny).
Baking Tips
While these outrageous chocolate cookies are easy to make, here is what I learned from the process, and skipping any of those steps can result in outrageously flat cookies (though still tasty) or dry cookies. Remember, these are supposed to be soft and chewy, with only the top of the cookie that's crunchy. So to have the success with these cookies, make sure to:
- Melt the chocolate in step 1 just enough to mix - melted chocolate should not be runny. When you mix the melted chocolate in and the cookie dough seems runny due to hot chocolate, allow the cookie dough to cool down for some time to harden up. By allowing the cookie dough sit for a while, the hot melted chocolate will cool down and harden the cookie dough.
- Beat your eggs and sugar in step 3 really well, until light and fluffy - otherwise the dough will be too thin.
- Do not over bake the cookie. The cookie should not be dry, it should still be soft and brownie-like after 12-15 minutes of baking (no more, maybe less - depends on your oven).
- To avoid cookies spreading too thin during baking, make sure to follow all of the steps above, and also use cold baking sheets - not hot or warm baking sheets that have been sitting for an hour underneath your pre-heated oven.
Storage tip: These cookies keep well for a week in an air-tight container.
Outrageous chocolate cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate , chopped
- 4 tablespoons butter , unsalted
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 12 oz semisweet chocolate chunks , or equal amount of semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second increments, stirring between each, until almost melted. Make sure not to over melt the chocolate, melt it just enough to mix – as I emphasized above in the post.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla on high speed really well, until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; beat in melted chocolate (remember, the melted chocolate should not be too runny).
- Mix in flour mixture until just combined. Stir in chocolate chunks (or chocolate chips). If your batter is too runny (due to over melting the chocolate in step 1), let the batter stand for some time to get hard.
- Spray baking sheets with cooking spray – it’s important: I found that these cookies really stick to the baking sheet if you skip this step.
- Drop tablespoons (or less) of dough onto cold baking sheets 2 inches apart. Let me emphasize – use cold baking sheets (not hot or warm baking sheets that have been sitting underneath your pre-heated oven).
- Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are shiny and crackly yet soft in centers, 12 to 15 minutes. Do not over bake the cookies, the texture should still be soft, that of a brownie, when you take them out of the oven. If you over bake them, they will be too hard. Do not bake them to a crisp, they are supposed to be soft.
- Cool on baking sheets 10 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
These are by far the best chocolate/chocolate chip cookies I've ever made! Thank you for sharing. Your pointers made them easy to make and the recipe is delicious 🙂
I am glad that the instructions are helpful! Enjoy the cookies!
How many cookies can you make in one batch?
1 or 2 dozens, depending if you're making them large or small. These actually look really good in a large size.
These look so sinfully delicious! A must try in September after training is over...
Beautiful images - as usual Julia.
These look and sound amazing! I'm going to definitely try these very soon. I'm thinking about subbing the all-purpose flour with white whole wheat flour or a mix of both. Any suggestions?
Subbing all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour or a mix of both could be tricky, as whole wheat flour is very dry compared to all purpose flour. That could mess up how cookies will look in the end.
Those cookies look amazing!
Can't wait to try them.
What type of oven do you use; fan or convection?
I use regular oven, no convection.
How much does this recipe make?
1 or 2 dozens depending on the size of the cookies.
I pinned this recipe to my pins a few days ago and it has already been repinned 10 times. The picture makes them look delightful and cant wait to try them. This reminds me of a recipe that I used to make for bridal showers and such. It began with melting ghiradelli block of chocolate. and they had the crunchy shell outside
Oh yes, the better the chocolate quality, the better these cookies will come out! Using Ghirardelli chocolate will make them even tastier! Thanks for pinning, and I hope you do try these! 🙂
I've made these cookies before, and they are AMAZING!
Yes, I love them! 🙂 My favorite chocolate cookies! 🙂
Have you tried freezing these? I need to make cookie boxes for approximately 15 people and would love to include these in the mix. Any other recommendations for make-ahead & freeze cookies would be appreciated!
I did try to freeze them and it was not a good idea. 🙂 The texture was outright ugly once I baked them! It must have to do with the fact that we're using melted chocolate here and if it freezes, the whole cookie loses its texture. I don't think these are freezable at all, as the melted chocolate hardens if frozen and turns into tiny chocolate chip chunks within the cookie dough (vs. a nice shell if you bake them fresh).
Would it be ok to add macadamia nuts when you use the white chocolate?
Yes, macadamia nuts and white chocolate would be GREAT in this cookie. In fact, I've made these with white chocolate - here is the recipe: outrageous chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips
I wouldn't add too many macadamia nuts, just a few, otherwise it might ruin that nice shell-like outside texture of the cookie.
Is it absolutely necessary to use Unsalted butter? I don't want to run to the store if I can just use the regular quarters I have in the fridge!
These look amazing. My kids would flip for that soft gooey inside!!
Oh my gosh, these look outrageously good! Seriously drooling here!
You don't have to beg me to try this recipe. These look so fudgy and delicious!