Dark Chocolate Ginger Almond Cookies

Chocolate Ginger Almond Cookies (0006) by Meeta K. Wolff

Breaking the pieces of the glossy, almost-black colored chunks into the copper saucepan evoked sheer pleasure. The reflection of the rich, dark, precious commodity against the metal even made the sun peek from behind the thick, heavy clouds. It was raining, as it so often does throughout January, dampening our moods and drowning out any desire of life. We had been lying on the couch for hours - listless, lifeless and limp. Couch potatoes, grumping over the wind and weather and as the hours lethargically dragged on, our moods stooped further. There was only one cure for this: CHOCOLATE. 

The chocolate kick had to be of the fast and furious kind. It had to be wrapped in a treat of flakey and nutty pastry, each bite satiating the senses and bringing back the zest and passion into our drab day. And as I pulled back the silver paper, revealing the gleaming bar, I swear a ray of sunlight broke through the grey, exposing the blue behind.

As the squares melted into a gleaming liquid, fingers were dipped and chocolate smeared grins lit up the room. The sun, envious of our indulgence, came out a bit more, pushing the clouds further away.  We dipped the nutty, flaky pastries into the smooth, rich elixir and waited impatiently for them to dry, blowing ever so gently to help the process along. Above, the inquisitive sun banished the howling winds, bringing a soothing tranquility.

Chocolate Ginger Almond Cookies (0011) by Meeta K. Wolff

Hot milk and honey, a plate of chocolate ginger cookies and a bright sunny day outside soon had us making plans for the afternoon. Filled with new energy and vitality we packed our bags, grabbing a few more luscious cookies … to make sure the sun was tempted enough to stay out and play with us. After all … chocolate has always had mystical powers.

A chocolate cure for the chocoholic. This is a subtle yet sublime treat for the chocolate fans out there and … hand on your chocolate hearts... aren’t we always on the look-out for new ways to enjoy our favorite food group? 
 Chocolate Ginger Almond Cookies (0016) by Meeta K. Wolff

How do you like your chocolate?

These dark chocolate ginger almond cookies will have people of all ages eating out of your hands. But there is an ever so slight grown-up touch with the sensational highlight of the candied ginger added to these cookies. A great Valentine day treat for your loved ones!

Recipe: Chocolate Ginger Almond Cookies

Printable version of recipe here

Chocolate Ginger Almond Cookies

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yields: 30 cookies

Ingredients:

  • 100g candied ginger, chopped
  • 300g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 500g ground almonds
  • 100g icing sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 350g fine sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 egg whites
  • Handful flour
  • 100g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

Method:

  1. Place 150g dark chocolate in a double boiler and melt until smooth. Allow to cool. Pre-heat oven to 220 degrees C.
  2. In a clean bowl add the ground almonds, icing sugar, cardamom, sugar, salt, chopped candied ginger and the remaining chocolate in a bowl. Pour the melted chocolate and the egg whites and mix together until it comes together into smooth. homogeneous dough.
  3. Scatter some flour on the countertop and quickly roll out the dough into a 25 x 25 cm square, about 2 cm thick. Cut into smaller squares then each square diagonally to give you triangles.
  4. Place the triangles on a baking tray, 2cm apart, then back for about 4-5 minutes. Take out of oven and allow to cool completely.
  5. Meanwhile, melt the 100g dark chocolate in a double boiler. Once melted, dip one side of the triangles into the chocolate and allow to dry on some baking paper.
  6. To store. place the cooled and dried cookies in cookie boxes layered in between baking paper. Stored this way the should keep for 2 weeks (if you can resist not eating them in one sitting).


Verdict

Chocolate Ginger Almond Cookies (0009) by Meeta K. Wolff

I love the way the crystallized ginger shimmers in between the chunks of chocolate. A flaky, chunky and chewy treat with flavors that explode in your mouth. Wrap them in some red crepe paper and gift them to your favorite girlfriend, to your kids or the man of your dreams … they will be eating out of your hands.

Each week as I virtually walk the web I always find some fun, creative or interesting details that inspire me, leave me breathless or simply make me hungry. I often share these via Twitter or Facebook but I thought it would be great to share my faves each week here on the blog too.

This week I fell in love with some beautiful handmade ceramics from Mia in Stockholm, was blown away by Johanna’s creative illustrated blog, was excited to party with Holly at her #bloghug party. and wanted to move to a dream villa … and more ….

Here are my favorite things this week:

[WEIMAR WORKSHOP]

Weimar2013WorkshopBadge-SIDEBAR-BLACK
Shoot, Style, Craft & Design … the Weimar Food Styling, Photography and Design Workshop at the Landgut Holzdorf
15 - 16 March 2013, Weimar, Germany

Details here.

Registrations now open here.

Be there!








You might like these chocolate treats from WFLH:

ChocolateChipCookies_0010_WM_thumb CookiesMacadamiaChoc01framed3 BlackSesameMacarons021framed2
Chocolate Chunk Cookies Salted Macadamia Nut and Chunky White Chocolate Cookies Macarons - Black Sesame and Nutella


All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2012 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Continue »

49 comments:

  1. Ah, I think baking really works wonders on a grumpy spirit and slouchy mood. And then sitting down to eat these wonders! There is something so elegant about your little chocolate-dipped biscuits and you make me want to try them - JP would love the candied ginger, I could see them with dried cherries. Either way...perfect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love these kind of treats. Not much effort but 100% taste. The idea with the cherries is perfect!

      Delete
  2. Oh, those are wonderful! Exactly what I am craving at the moment... Chocolate is a good cure against dreary weather blues.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  3. Baking is perfect for lifting my mood and it's clear both of our kitchens were filled with fresh cookies this week:) I absolutely love the idea of combining both chocolate, ginger and almonds. Need to try that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Denise, I love ginger and chocolate together and often dip the candied ginger in the melted chocolate. Hope you enjoy these!

      Delete
  4. Isn't chocolate the most amazing wonder medicine? These little treats are just looking like the thing I need today! We're leaving in a few hours time, all is done and dusted here... and I'm bored... Want to leave now... I think I could definitely use some of these! Have fun in London!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll be missing you in London!

      I wish I could fly these over for your birthday. Have fun!

      Delete
  5. I'll eat anything that has ginger in it... but really cookies are the best. And then covered with dark chocolate? It doesn't get much better than that!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Please send some over! It really was a chocolate kind of a day and I am so craving these cookies! BTW, the next package arrived today - delectable Calissons and Nougat de Montélimar for the workshop ;-)
    Hugs dear,
    Sandy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OOh now those I would like to try. I would love to send you some of these But I am looking forward to our macaron session together!

      Delete
  7. OMG look at the state of those cookies...! Ginger and chocolate are always a winning combination in my book. And how do I like my chocolate? The darker the better! ;o) Wanna bring me a batch of these when you visit next week?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Would love to bring a few over ... but ... alas they are all gone! Cannot wait to see you on day after tomorrow!

      Delete
  8. I love the clicks. I will definitely try these cookies on weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful as usual. Those plus a cold glass of milk would go down so well right now. That ginger looks amazing. Baking is totally the best escape from crappy weather!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! It is a great way to forget the weather and when chocolate is involved then one often forgets everything else too :o)

      Delete
  10. gorgeous! what a delicious little cookie, can't wait to try them out on a crappy weather day (35degrees C here right now!)

    ReplyDelete
  11. How do I like my chocolate? With ginger. Actually ginger with chocolate as I am NOT a chocoholic...unlike the rest of my family. Hope the clouds have lifted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AHH! I thought this would ring the right tone with you Sally.

      Delete
  12. You said the two magic words....chocolate and ginger! Love!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ginger and chocolate, I can´t think in anything better! Wonderful recipe, congrats!

    Regards,

    Photorecipe

    ReplyDelete
  14. Even if I wasn't a chocoholic already, I would be after reading this post - beautifully written. Love ginger too, so I've bookmarked the recipe for future reference

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you enjoy it! And glad you have come to chocoholics anonymous here ;o)

      Delete
  15. Def great flavours Meeta! Love that you used candied ginger too! mmmm...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great flavor play! I love chocolate and ginger when they collide! I want you to be my Valentine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You just want me for my chocolate sides Denise! But yes I would love to be your Valentine's

      Delete
  17. Great. I love Ginger with chocolate ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Meeta, do they only need baking for 4-5 minutes? I did notice that the baking temp is 220C. I don't have much experience with baking cookies, so i thought I'd double-check. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes they do not need very long. As there is no flour in the cookies the baking time is so short just so that the flavors come together and are slightly baked.

      Delete
  19. I love candied ginger! These cookies look so unique and tasty! Perfect to have alongside a cup of coffee! :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I tried making this recipe tonight in preparation for Valentines Day. My dough just didn't come together as the recipe describes. It was quite dry. It didn't seem like there was enough wet ingredients to make a smooth and homogenous dough. I ended up just rolling them into little balls and flattening them with my hand since I couldn't get the dough to roll out for me. They taste good, but I'm wondering if they should be even better. Should the almonds be ground to almost a flour like consistency? I ground my up to a course texture, but definitely not a flour or find texture. Would that make a difference? Is there something else I should add to make the dough come together better? I did throw some chopped dried cherries in and the combination is great! Thank you for any thoughts or advice you might have! -Jessica

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jessica,

      Thanks for your comment and feedback. I am not exactly sure where they could have gone wrong. The ground almonds should be very fine mine are not as fine as flour but a tad coarser. The egg whites keeps it moist and pliable and that is all you need. Maybe the almonds you used were too coarse? And maybe the additional "dry" ingredient of the cherries also made it more difficult to roll out. They do taste great and I hope you try them out again. Should you really face it being dry again maybe add a few drops of water to make it more "rollable".

      Delete
  21. Thank you Meeta for responding! I'll definitely try these again, but with a finer ground almond. My husband and I love ginger, chocolate, and almonds, so a combination of all three is fantastic! -Jessica

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have a funny taste bud. I don't like munching chocolate as much as I love sweet treats made with chocolate. Chocolate cake or ice cream or even chocolate ganache :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thank you for providing this recipe and in such a beautifully written way! Loved your blog, will be coming back!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hugs
Meeta