Usually at this time of year I am the one packaging up and sending cookies out to everyone I love. So this year, it was a wonderful change of pace to be the recipient of some cookies. As a participant in the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, which I wrote about a few days ago, I received three packages in the mail, each containing a dozen very delicious cookies.
There is something so exciting about getting a package in the mail. I suspect that little thrill of finding a parcel in my mailbox is the primary factor contributing to my on-line shopping addiction. By the time the box arrives, I have completely forgotten about it, so it comes as a wonderful surprise. (Lovely, that is, until the credit card comes later in the month reminding me that I bought myself these gifts!)
My bounty from the Cookie Swap included:
- Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies from Dana of hot pink apron. In the accompanying note she said,”They’re simple yet painfully addictive – you’ve been warned!” She was right!
- Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies from Kate of kate’s plate. Deep and dark and deliciously satisfying with my morning latte!
- Sour Cream Softies Cookies and a beautiful handmade origami ornament from Lisa of je suis alimentageuse. The tang of the sour cream kept these cookies from going over the sweet edge.
I am a big believer in sweet generosity! I have always felt that baking for other people is one of the most thoughtful gifts that you can give. Rather than shop for gifts for all the people in my life for whom I am grateful, I decided many years ago to bake. And somehow, over the years my gratitude has grown to include a circle of about 44 people!
While I may get a little bored baking the same treats year after year, certain items in my gift box are mandatory or there may be an uprising. Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark and Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies are sacrosanct.
I decided to add Chocolate Toffee Cookies to the mix this year. These cookies take chocolate loving to the next level. Deep dark bittersweet chocolate combines with toffee bits to create a chewy cookie with bits of crunchy toffee in the center. A sprinkling of Maldon Sea Salt on top of the cookies adds an incredible textural component as the little salt crystals crunch gently between your teeth and then dissolve on your tongue. After my friend Edward received his box of cookies he sent me the following brief email:
Subject: Chocolate Toffee Cookies
Are you insane? You should be locked away. They are “O.F.S.”……..out f^#*ing standing.
High praise indeed for some pretty yummy cookies!
The toffee in these cookies comes from chopped up Skor bars. Chop up more Skor bars than the recipe calls for since the little bits of chopped up toffee have a mysterious way of disappearing! I wondered where those little bits had gone to and then I discovered them on my hips this week!
Eggs and brown sugar are mixed well for about 5 minutes.
Add cooled melted chocolate and butter mixture and then the chopped Skor bars.
An ice cream scoop works well to portion dough so that all your cookies are exactly the same size and bake evenly.
Halfway through the baking I like to sprinkle the tops with a bit of Maldon sea salt. The cookies are done when the tops have a beautiful crackly surface. They will still look a bit wet on top but remove them from the oven anyways. If you bake them for too long you will have a dry crumbly cookie instead of a chewy one.
Click here to print recipe for Chocolate Toffee Cookies.
What a salivating visual delight! The deliciousness must be obscene. lol
Great job with the write-up and pics.
Bake on!!!!
Those look delish! I just made 2 big batches of chocolate truffles. Maybe tomorrow I’ll attempt yours. That’s, of course, if I don’t eat all the Skor bars. 🙂
Thanks Sandy, yes, Skor bars sitting in the cupboard can be quite dangerous.
You are dangerous!! I made a batch of your shortbread Toblerone cookies and not one made it into a gift package….. my jeans were VERY tight today.
Thanks Sandra, or maybe I should say sorry! I feel your pain as my pants are tight as well! Tis the season I guess. I promise salad recipes for January!
Wow these cookies are gorgeous! And I actually started salivating when I saw the photo of all your Skor bars lined up. So many bloggers are a part of the cookie swap this year – I’m devastated I didn’t partake! Think of all the amazing cookies I’ve missed out on!
Thanks so much. If you email the cookie swap women now, they will add you to next year’s list and email you to remind you. It was a lot of fun.
Thank you for a recipe that includes two of my favorite things, I just emailed this to my group as a last minute addition to our epic day of cookie making!
Hope the group like them. Group cookie making sounds like fun!
yummy～～
This is one recipe from your blog I can’t wait to try. I also really like your presentation with a ribbon – beautiful!
Thanks for stopping by Tet!
These definitely sound dangerously delicious — Skors are addictive on their own and I think you’ve taken it up a level! So glad you enjoyed the cookies — your cookie swap recipe sounds absolutely delicious as well! You have a beautiful site, looking forward to trying some of your recipes. Happy Holidays! 🙂
Thanks Katie! They are dangerous to have in the house. I keep them in the freezer but then I discovered that I like them even better frozen!
These are some of my favorite cookies. I also leave out the walnuts from the original recipe (allergies). If you roll the dough into a log, it freezes beautifully and becomes the world’s best slice-and-bake cookie 🙂 Do you think there is a difference between Skor bars and Heath bars? The Heath bars come pre-chopped (heath bits) which is a time saver.
I love the idea of a slice and bake cookie for these. So easy.
As for Skor vs Heath I am firmly on Team Skor! Others agree with me. See this article:
http://forums.egullet.org/topic/130217-toffee-throwdown-heath-v-skor/
Not being a candy eater, I had no idea there was a difference. Thanks for the link. I am going to secretly try Skor next time and see if my main cookie eater notices a difference.
Love these cookies. How thin, the texture and deep chocolate richness. Great cookie swap recipe. Merry Christmas!
I can’t find a recipe on here! Would love to try these!
Hi tmt, sorry about that. All fixed now!! Happy baking.