Friday, January 15, 2010

Molten Chocolate Centred Cookies with Candied Violets

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You know when you get a wicked chocolate craving and the only thing you can think about itsbiting into something that is full of warm melted chocolated that oozes out like lava? I had one of those cravings the other day. And it was overwhelming. I was dreaming of sweet fluffy muffins, still steaming in the middle, that I could break open to reveal their gooey chocolate centres. But then I thought, wouldn't it be even better in a cookie? With the contrasting textures of the crumbly cookie versus the smooth liquid centre, I needed to make it (and eat it) right away!
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These biscuits, like most biscuits, are ridiculously easy to make. But the reward is a decadent, rich but not too rich soft biscuit, with a little bit of crunch on the outside. The slight bitterness of the cocoa is offset by the light floral sweetness of the candied violets. Best enjoyed warm, so that the centres ooooooooooze when you bite into them, I served them straight out of the oven or warmed them up in the microwave before I served them. Though I usually refrain from overindulging in the sweet treats that I make for this blog, I think I must have ended up eating nearly half of these biscuits because they were dangerously moreish, like brownies in a cookie form. And they more than satisfied that crazy chocolate craving I was having.
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Molten Chocolate Centred Cookies with Candied Violets
(Makes 30-40 biscuits)
225g unsalted butter, softened
2 cups caster sugar
1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa powder (3/4 if using regular baking cocoa powder)
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
100g dark chocolate (I used Lindt 70% but you can use a less bitter chocolate)
2 tbsp candied (crystallised) violets
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Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, vanilla and cocoa powder and beat until combined. Sift flour and baking powder in a separate bowl and then fold gradually into the mixing bowl. The dough should be smooth, very fluffy and sticky.
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Using your hands or a tablespoon, shape balls of dough about 3-4cm in diameter. Flatten slightly on a lined baking tray and then press a small piece of dark chocolate into the centre. Gently use your fingers to press the dough around the piece of chocolate. The dough is very sticky, so it might be easier to lightly flour your hands before touching the dough.
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Crush candied violets into small pieces (I used my mortar & pestle) and then sprinkle over the top of each ball of dough. Leave about 5 cm between each biscuit to allow room for spreading.
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Bake for approximately 10 minutes. The biscuits should be just starting to firm up around the edges but will still be soft and fudgy in the middle. Serve straight away while the centres are still liquid.
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Can be stored in an airtight container for a week. When ready to serve, warm up in a microwave for 15-30 secs, or until the biscuits are very warm to the touch, so that the chocolate in the centre is melted.
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*EDIT*: Tina brought up a very good point in the comments below - These cookies taste really good cold anyway, I was far too lazy near the end of the batch to warm them up before scoffing them. Tis the magic of chocolate!
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26 comments:

  1. I have never made a molten centre cookies! Very interesting. It must be tricky to get the oven timing right to get the melting centre. Loving the candid violets! Where did you get them from?

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  2. I was watching an episode of Nigella Bites the other day and she was diving into a huge jar of candied violets - they look fab, and even more so on those gooey muffins. Nice work!

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  3. Sorry, I meant cookies, not muffins!

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  4. Ooooh very nice and I can't think of a single person that doesn't like a molten centre! Ahh you bought the EI candied violets! They're expensive little buggers aren't they! I found them very reasonably priced in London so next time I go I'm stockpiling them :P

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  5. you had me at brownies but in cookie form zomg that sounds awesome!

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  6. Ohmygoodness! Looks absolutely delicious! I love the special touch with the candied violets too - with the dark chocolate centre, it'd have a super yummy floral/bitter/sweet flavour.

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  7. Steph, OMG! I can hardly restrain myself!!! Im going to walk to the shops (excuse to eat a few more), get the ingredients and bake them right away. Who needs a normal lunch when you can have these babies! THANKS x

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  8. Molten centre cookies! Yum! I often see those candied violets in cake shops but they look too pretty to use! They'd be sensational straight out of the microwave.

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  9. absolutely gorgeous!!! a molten lava cake cookie style! I cant wait to try this one day!!

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  10. D-ROOL. What happens if you eat them cold?

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  11. Ommgggg ur creations are always so awesommee!! Love the gooey centres!

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  12. Floral chocolate cookie. Never would have thought of that flavour combination but it sounds like it would be nice.

    Who am I kidding. You're making the cookies so they must be great!

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  13. I was having an intense chocolate craving the other day too! I ended up scoffing down i dont know how many lindt choc balls! lol. These cookies look so moreish.. love the molten centre... yUm!!

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  14. Oozy chocolate cookies...served warm with some cold, cold vanilla ice-cream please!

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  15. these look gorgeous!! i'm curious though, what do candied violets taste like?

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  16. Candied Violets.. Gorgeous! With the chocolate, perfect combination :)

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  17. yay! molten lava cake in cookie form:)

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  18. Yum, yum and yum. What more can I say?

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  19. Wow these look soooo good! I love how the chocolate just oozes out from the centre - so melty and delicious! Great idea!

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  20. Perfect! - I love gooey chocolate insides - yum, I will give these a go... when I get free time ;P

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  21. Fantastic idea to put a little lindt piece in the center - such a unique and yummy idea Steph! And candied violets too? What a treat!

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  22. Ellie - You should try sometimes! It's really not that tricky, chocolate is awesome like that :) The violets are from Essential Ingredient.

    Belle@Ooh, Look - They are awesome, I absolutely adore their flavour. They're so expensive though!

    Lorraine - They were sooo expensive, but I had to get them. I've nearly finished my pack though :(

    chocolatesuze - :D thanks! Now to do cookies in brownie form ;)

    shez - Yeah I think it would be nice but not as great without the violets, plus they make it look so much prettier!

    Kate - Haha YES I agree with this move! Cookies for lunch!

    Helen - :) I know, I always feel a bit guilty whenever I use them because their so precious. But it's worth it!

    Flirting with flour - Thanks so much! I hope you do try it :)

    Tina - Hehe see my edit at the bottom of the post! They still taste great!

    FFichiban - Haha thank u! Gooey centres are the best centres!

    Conor - Teehee :D Why thank you!

    Simon - Trust me, it's really really great! I wasn't too sure, but it makes them really interesting. Hahaha thanks!

    Betty - Haha lindt chocs are evil, I can eat a whole box in one sitting! Thanks Betty!

    mademoiselle délicieuse - Ooh yes, icecream would go great with these, all broken up so the oozing centres act like fudge sauce!

    panda - The violets are very light in flavour, just very sweet with a hint of a floral note. No where near as strong as rose or lavender. You should try it sometime!

    haleybrooke2 - Thank you! It's my new favourite to pair with chocolate, it works so well!

    chocolatecup - Hehe I've never actually tried making the cakes, I will have to try sometime!

    john@heneedsfood - :) Haha thanks!

    Jacq - It's so good! I wish I had put even more choc in the centres so it was super oozy! Thanks!

    Anita - Ooh yes I hope you do try them!

    Trissa - Heehee I always have a bar of lindt sitting around just in case I get cravings like this! Thanks Trissa!

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  23. Do you think they would still be ok without the violets? Can you recommend any substitutes? Thanks!

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  24. Anonymous - They'll be fine without the violets!

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  25. Your blog is a massive inspiration to me and i have just started my own blog!!! I was wondering if you had any tips on how to get your blog out there! I have no idea where to begin but you have done very well for yourself and so i was wondering what you approach was.

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