Dark Chocolate Ginger Almond Cookies

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.

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? 
 

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

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).

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Verdict

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:

• Kokblog - a gorgeous illustrated cooking blog by the talented Johanna Kindvall
• Hand drawn Valentine Postcards and Tags the fantastic Sybille at Fun.kyti.me
• Blanquette de Veau by the lovely Mimi Thorisson at Manger
• 34 Coolest Food Packaging Designs of 2012
• Mia Blanche Ceramics - stunning handmade ceramics from Mia in Stockholm
• #bloghug Party with Holly over at Decor8
• Dream with me - a stunning villa with a view!

[WEIMAR WORKSHOP]

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:

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

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