Mean Chefs Chocolate Sugar Cookies Recipes

CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla; beat until creamy, about 2 more minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated, about 2 more minutes.
• Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; form into disks. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Roll out the dough between floured sheets of parchment paper until about 1/4 inch thick. Chill 2 more hours.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Mist 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Cut the dough into shapes; gather the scraps and reroll once to cut out more cookies. Arrange 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until set, about 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the icing: Beat the confectioners' sugar, meringue powder and 3 to 4 tablespoons water in a bowl with a mixer on high speed until smooth and thick. Transfer to a resealable bag and snip a small corner. Pipe onto the cookies; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Let set 30 minutes.

MEAN CHEF'S CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda and cream of tartar together in a medium bowl and with a wire whisk, stir to combine.
• In a large bowl, using a hand-held mixer at medium speed, beat the butter for 30 seconds, or until creamy.
• Add the sugar and continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is light in texture and color.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
• Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat well.
• At low speed beat in the flour mixture, in two additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
• Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375°F.
• On a well-floured surface, roll out half of dough at a time to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Using a cookie cutter cut into shapes and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
• Bake on an ungreased baking sheet for 5-8 minutes or until lightly browned at edges.
• Cool. Decorate as desired.

MEAN CHEF'S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES WITH PECANS

Steps:

• Position 1 rack in the top 1/3 and another in the bottom 1/3 of the oven and preheat to 350°F.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.
• Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler over hot, simmering water.
• Remove from the heat but keep the chocolate mixture over a bowl of hot water to ensure that the mixture does not set.
• In a small bowl, combine the vanilla extract and the espresso powder and whisk until the espresso powder is dissolved.
• Stir the espresso mixture into the chocolate mixture.
• Combine the eggs and both sugars in the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer (you can double the recipe and it will fit a 5 or 6 qt mixer bowl).
• Set the bowl over a pan of hot, hot simmering water.
• Stir with a hand-held wire whisk until warm to the touch.
• Attach the bowl to the mixer stand.
• Using the wire whip attachment, whip the mixture on high speed until pale, thickened and cool, about 5 minutes.
• Fold into the warm chocolate mixture.
• Fold in the flour.
• Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans.
• Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto the 2 prepared pans leaving about 1 to 1/2 inches between the cookies (at work I make these a lot bigger so that they come out about 5 inches across).
• Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the cookies are set: switch the positions of the baking sheets halfway through the baking time for even baking.
• Cool the cookies on the baking sheets on wire racks for about 3 minutes, then transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
• Repeat with the remaining dough.

MEAN CHEF'S OATMEAL PECAN CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
• Set dry ingredients aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter with both sugars; beat until light and fluffy.
• Add vanilla, milk, and eggs; mix well.
• Add reserved dry ingredients, and beat until just combined.
• Remove bowl from mixer, and fold in oats, chocolate, and pecans.
• Place dough in the refrigerator until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Heat oven to 350°.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside.
• Remove dough from refrigerator.
• Using an ice-cream scoop, shape into 2-inch-diameter balls.
• Place six balls on each baking sheet, spaced 4 inches apart, and press down Transfer to oven.
• Bake until golden, but still soft in center, 15 to 16 minutes.
• Remove from oven, and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
• Repeat with remaining dough.
• Store in an airtight container up to 2 days.