Duff Goldman Chocolate Cookie Recipes

TOFFEE, CHOCOLATE AND ORANGE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the cookie crust: Beat the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until fluffy. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix until well combined.
• Spray a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Press the cookie dough evenly into the pan. Prick the dough with a fork or toothpick and bake until golden brown, approximately 20 minutes. Let cool, and then spread the raspberry jam evenly over the top.
• To make the nougat: Place the butter, sugar and evaporated milk in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil until the mixture develops a syrupy texture, for about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the butterscotch chips, marshmallow creme and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Fold in the toffee bits and spread evenly over the cookie and raspberry jam. Allow to set up in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
• Using a ruler as a guide, cut the cookie into 1-by-3-inch bars and return to the freezer while you prepare the chocolate.
• Melt the coating chocolate over a double boiler. (Or, place the coating chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on medium power for 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. Continue until the chocolate is thin and completely smooth, about 4 minutes.)
• Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet. Using a fork or a chocolate tool, dip the chilled bars into the chocolate, coating completely. Let the excess chocolate drip off, and then transfer to the cooling rack to set. Place the bars back in the freezer to set, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the chilled bars from the freezer and enjoy.
• Alternatively, if using the candied orange peels, slightly melt the top of each bar using a kitchen blowtorch. Sprinkle with the candied orange pieces. Torch the tops of the bars further, until the orange pieces are slightly toasted and brown. Place back in the freezer until ready to enjoy.

CHOCOLATE BABKA

Steps:

• Make the dough: Sprinkle the yeast over the milk in a liquid measuring cup; add a pinch of sugar and set aside until bubbly, about 7 minutes. Combine the flour, the remaining 1/3 cup sugar, the eggs, yeast mixture, salt, vanilla, nutmeg and lemon zest in a large bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead until soft and smooth, about 5 minutes. Knead in the butter in three additions, dusting the dough with flour if it's too sticky. Transfer the dough to a large bowl; cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down the dough, re-cover with plastic wrap and let rise in the fridge overnight.
• Make the filling: Heat the sugar, heavy cream and salt in a saucepan until scalding. Pour over the bittersweet chocolate chips, butter and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk until smooth and shiny. Let cool to room temperature.
• Make the topping: Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a separate bowl; work in the butter with your fingers until the mixture is sandy and chunky. Stir in the mini chocolate chips; set the topping aside.
• Form the loaves: Cut the dough in half with a bench scraper or chef's knife. Using a rolling pin, roll each half into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Using an offset spatula, spread the filling on both dough rectangles, all the way to the edges. Starting from a long side, tightly roll each rectangle into a log. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate 15 minutes. Unwrap the logs; cut each in half lengthwise with a bench scraper or chef's knife. Twist the halves together a few times, starting from the middle. Coat two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray and line with parchment, then spray the parchment. Place a dough twist snugly in each pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 1 1/2 hours.
• Finish and bake the babka: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush each loaf with butter and sprinkle with the topping. Bake until browned, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, make some simple syrup: Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan; simmer, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Let cool. Pull the loaves out of the oven and immediately poke a bunch of holes in each with a wooden skewer. Pour 1 1/4 cups simple syrup evenly over the loaves.
• Let sit 10 minutes, then remove the babka from the pans, remove the parchment and let cool completely on a rack.