Dark Chocolate and Cayenne Cookies

December 14, 2011
 I am living in a family divided! The constant debate of my flavor combinations has taken me over the edge. I can’t take it anymore!
Why is it so hard for people to like and appreciate the flavor combinations of sweet and spicy? If it works in a mole sauce, why can’t it work in a cookie?
Half of my family told me not to post this recipe on the blog. They said this is not a traditional cookie that you sit down and eat ten in a row of with a glass of milk. Who died and made them judges of what passes for a “traditional” cookie? Maybe I don’t want to make a “traditional” cookie!
I might be generalizing here, but most of the people that don’t like this cookie are not fans of spice. Their taste buds shy away from a fight. In other words, they live a rather bland life. (I can say this because they are my family and have to love me regardless.)
If you are adventurous when it comes to taste and want to stick it to the man every chance you get, you are a man/woman after my own heart!

 

Ingredients (makes approx. 30 cookies)
2 ¼ Cup Flour
1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
1 Cup of Soft Unsalted Butter*
¾ Cup Light Brown Sugar
¼ Cup Sugar
2 ½ Teaspoons of Cayenne Pepper
1 Package of Jell-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla
2 Eggs
12 oz Dark Chocolate Chips
½ Teaspoon of Coarse Sea Salt
*If your butter is in the slightest bit cold, the cookies will not puff up, they will be flat. They are fine to eat, but they look better when you use soft room temp butter.
First, using a whisk, mix the flour and baking soda together in a large bowl. In a separate large bowl, combine the sugars, cayenne, instant pudding, butter, and vanilla. Beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Beat in one egg at a time. Mix until evenly combined.
Gradually add in the flour and baking soda mix. It is best to use a stand mixer or hand mixer for this part, since the dough is very hard. When all the flour has been mixed in, add the chocolate chips.
 
Form 1-inch sized balls of dough. Place them about 2 inches apart on an un-greased baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with the sea salt. Press some of the granules in to the dough to make sure they stick. Bake cookies in the oven at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. The cookies keep cooking the longer you keep them on the sheet. So to maintain a nice soft cookie, get them off the baking sheet and on to a wire rack to cool as soon as possible.
 
This is a bad ass cookie that spits on the glass of warm milk and instead, demands a shot of tequila! The perfect addition to any up-scale classy holiday party you plan on attending or crashing this year!

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  • Amarachi
    August 30, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    I couldn’t agree with you more. Sweet and spicy is a wonderful combination. My family is the same way. I told them I wanted to make homemade cinna sticks like pizza hut, with cayenne cinnamon sugar. They looked at me like I had twelve heads lol. Then I told them about making vanilla bean lemonade angst they of course thought I was crazy!

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  • Maggie @ Kitchie Coo
    December 20, 2011 at 11:19 pm

    2 1/2 tsp cayenne?!? This is daring and terrific! I have had the chocolate & chile combo before in ice cream and loved it. Your fam needs to man up and get with the program here. These would be a winner in my house!!

    • Stefanie
      December 20, 2011 at 11:39 pm

      I know 2 1/2 seems like a lot… At first I started with 3 and 1/4 and that was way too hot. Through trial and error I think that supplies the most heat while still being able to enjoy. Thanks for your comment! I will tell my family to man up! hahaha

  • Alyssa
    December 19, 2011 at 11:34 am

    It sounds like my family and your family are having the same fight. My husband hates sweet/spicy or sweet/salty combinations. I think he is crazy. Well, I think your cookies look great! If they don’t want to eat a bunch of them, then it’s just more for you 🙂

  • Kelly
    December 14, 2011 at 11:28 pm

    You know these got my vote. ADDICTED. I cried when I ate the last one– after rationing them out for over a week. I will be recreating sometime this week.

    Also, Mike, I can sit down and eat 10 of these.