Desserts and Sweets

Chocolate Gnocchi, anyone?

By Denise Pare-Watson

Chocolate Gnocchi? Why?

I had to think of an Italian themed dessert bite for an event this week – isn’t this fun?

I thought I would share. It is like having a tootsie roll – only it’s a cookie!

I show you how to make these by using my recipe for Chocolate Caramel Cookie dough

Chocolate Gnocchi, Anyone? You can make it from Cookie Dough.

Chocolate Gnocchi, anyone?

“Make a list of important things to do today.

At the top of your list, put “eat chocolate.”

Now, you’ll get at least one thing done today.”
— Gina Hayes

METHOD:

Use my recipe for Caramel Cookies for this gnocchi. You will find the recipe for Chocolate Caramel Cookies here in the post called Chocolate and the Oscars.
Follow the recipe for the chocolate cookie dough, omitting the caramel centres.
Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
Take small amounts of the cookie dough and roll it into thin snakes or skinny logs.
Cut the snakes into pieces that resemble pillow-like shapes, just like gnocchi. Place the pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Chill the cookies again for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350^oF (175^oC) or 325^oF, if using a convection oven.
Bake them on a parchment lined sheet for 5 – 7 minutes. Cool.
Toss with a little chocolate sauce and sprinkled with chopped pecans. And Voila! Chocolate Gnocchi. Bet your guests never had anything like this before!

This recipe for Caramel Chocolate Cookies is from my second book, called Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares from UrbnSpice’s Chocolate Desserts Cookbook Series

As always, if you give this recipe for Chocolate Caramel Cookies a try, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback.

You can find me on social media – just be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I am sure to see it. Enjoy!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urbnspice Chef

Follow me on Social Media:

Urbnspice Facebook Page

Urbnspice is on Twitter

You will find lots of fun boards on Pinterest

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The Definitive Dessert Dilemma

By Denise Pare-Watson

I have a Dessert Dilemma. A question that is often presented to me as a pastry chef is:

“If you could choose only one dessert, what would it be?”

Have you given much thought to this? Depending on the situation, circumstances, and the environment at the time, I have a list of answers ready (actually, I have a few favourites!). My decision would have to be based on what I enjoy making as much as I enjoy eating (well, actually, I have a few of those favourites, too!)

: From the Cookbook Series: Gluten and Gluten-Free Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

…

Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares – A New E-Book!

By Denise Pare-Watson

Announcing the Newest Volume in the Series,

“Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares is here!

Nothing says “home, family and friends” like Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares.

I have been busy working with new and conventional recipes that we all remember as children and perfecting them to a point where they are simple and easy to utilize, whether at home or at work.

The feedback and comments that I have received from my first book, “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cakes”, has been extremely gratifying. It has been a significant motivating factor with respect to writing this new book, “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cookies, Brownies and Squares”.

From the Cookbook Series: Gluten and Gluten-Free Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

Your feedback has demonstrated to me that home bakers truly appreciate a quality recipe that is simple to follow, tried, true, tested and tasted. You also indicated from your feedback that you enjoyed the additional information (Learning Tips, Definitions & Explanations) that I provided in the book as to how to make your baking experience easier and more fulfilling. After all, this book is all about making you a hero!

Once again, I have taken my favourite, most delicious and easiest to produce chocolate cookie, brownie and square recipes and have provided them for your enjoyment. Take a look and tell me what you think!

From UrbnSpice’s Cookbook Series called, “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy & Delicious:

Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares

CLICK THE BOOK COVER BELOW!

Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cookies, Brownies & Squares

There are ten different Brownie recipes in this book, including:

Ultimate Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

From the Cookbook Series: Gluten and Gluten-Free Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

There are Thirty Cookie Recipes in the book.

Here is one of them:

Chocolate and Oat Cookies with a Creamy Filling

There are Ten Recipes for Squares and Bars in the book.

Here is one of them:

Buttertart Squares with Chocolate

There are also sections in this book covering recipes for:

Bases, Fillings and Glazes

Learning Tips

Definitions and Explanations

*****

“Never, ever refuse homemade brownies”

UrbnSpice

This book will be your go-to reference cookbook for Cookies, Brownies and Squares. I am excited about this book. I know you will be, too.

Happy Baking with Cookies, Brownies and Squares, everyone!

Denise Pare-Watson

The UrbnSpice Chef

Here is further information on UrbnSpice’s Other Books:

Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious Series of Cookbooks

Here is one of Amazon’s Top Reviewers Had to say about this book:

Top Customer Reviews

Chocolate! Need Any More Be Said?

ByGrandmaTOP 500 REVIEWERon March 16, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Those of you who follow my cookbook reviews know that it is a very hard thing to get a five-star review from me. Denise Paré-Watson hits every one of the marks with her latest, Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cookies, Brownies & Squares. The book is very nicely formatted and features an interactive Table of Contents that interfaces with the Kindle Navigation menu correctly. It is patently obvious that Denise knows of what she writes as she shares her expertise with the reader in more than fifty recipes for various bites of chocolate heaven.

Denise presents recipes that range from Black & White Chocolate Chips to definitely drool-worthy Quadruple Chocolate Brownies (the picture alone of that one is enough to make me gain a pound!!) and not just one but two different recipes for Chocolate Wafers – the crisp thin kind you use for Chocolate Icebox Cake and the softer kind that you use for Ice Cream Sandwiches. Each and every recipe is accompanied by a thorough description, detailed directions and often suggestion for a number of variations, storage and so on. The book includes both standard and metric measurements as well as pictures of most items. This is, without a doubt, a chocolate cookie baking primer!

If you love chocolate, this book’s for you.

Highly recommended!

You can find me on social media (see links below) – just be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I am sure to see it. Enjoy!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urbnspice Chef

Follow me on Social Media

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

Chocolate and The Oscars – A Winning Combination!

By Denise Pare-Watson

And the Winner Is:…………..CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIES

I am lucky enough to have many friends who love chocolate and caramel as much as I do. We have been inundated with chocolate around the Urbnspice Kitchen for several weeks with the launch of two cookbooks. With the Oscars being the focus on the entertainment of the evening, making some very special cookies seem to go hand in hand with the celebrations.

I am reminded of a quote by Forrest Gump, where he stated, “Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get!”

We don’t know what the outcome of the Oscars will be, but we can anticipate that it will be exciting, confirming and surprising. To follow that theme, I want to share with you a very special surprise cookie from our latest book, “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cookies, Brownies and Squares”. As far as we are concerned, these cookies are already winners around here. What will you be surprised with while watching the Oscars?

Chocolate Caramel Cookies

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIES

CHEF TALK: This is a cookie with a surprise inside! The fudge-like exterior hides a decadent ooey-gooey melted caramel. This is a great cookie to make with children. Serve with slices of watermelon for a great summertime treat. The cookies freeze very well.

Makes: Approximately 80 tiny cookies or 40 larger cookies

INGREDIENTS:

4 oz. bittersweet (70%) chocolate, chopped (120 g)
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (180 g)
1 cup granulated sugar (210 g)
2 eggs, large
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (15 ml)
2 cups all-purpose flour (300 g)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (45 g)
1 teaspoon baking powder (4 g)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (4 g)
1/2 teaspoon salt (4 g)
3 chocolate covered caramel bars (each 52 g), chilled Or: 24 – 40 soft caramels

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 350^oF (175^oC) or 325^oF, if using a convection oven.
In a bowl, over a saucepan of barely simmering water (bain-marie), melt the chopped chocolate, stirring until fully melted. Let cool.
For the filling: break the chocolate bar into equalized sections and chill until needed.
If you are using soft caramels, remove the wrappers and cut them in half. Set aside.
With a mixer, using a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Scrape the mixing bowl with a spatula, and add the eggs and pure vanilla extract. Blend until smooth.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix on low speed until well blended.
Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes or until it is firm enough to shape. When the dough has sufficiently chilled to handle, roll the dough into 1 inch balls (about 1 tablespoon).
Flatten and place one piece of the chocolate bar (or one caramel) into the centre and seal the dough around the chocolate. For tiny cookies (about 1 teaspoon), use one-half of a caramel. Re-roll the cookie in your hands, if necessary, into a nice, round ball.
Place seam side down, onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Do not flatten the cookie.
Bake for 7 – 9 minutes, depending on the size you make the cookie. Be careful not to over bake – it is better to bake until truffle-like.

Chocolate Caramel Cookies – A Truffle Cookie with a Caramel Interior

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIES

NOTES:

CHEF TIP: Removing the wrappers from soft caramels is much easier if you freeze them for 30 minutes. Unwrap the caramels while they are frozen.
Variation: Top the cookies with a chocolate ganache for presentation.

LEARNING TIPS:

Please CLICK the link above to access my UrbnSpice LEARNING TIPS, which are listed alphabetically on the Learning Tips blog post under the following subheadings:

Bain Marie
Cocoa Powder
Creaming
Extracts
Ganache
Oven Temperature Accuracy
Parchment Paper
Scoops
__________

You Might Also Like:

Mini Cheesecakes – White Chocolate with a Gluten Free Crust

UrbnSpice Cookbook Series

How to Make a Meringue Nest

If you try my recipe for Chocolate Caramel Cookies, please leave me a comment below with your feedback.

You can find me on social media (see links below) – just be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I am sure to see it. Enjoy!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urbnspice Chef

Follow me on Social Media

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

Cookie Testing Day and a Kitchen Disaster

By Denise Pare-Watson

Today was a great day. It was cookie testing day in the Urbnspice kitchen.

Eight different, lovely chocolate cookies.

This makes for quite an untidy kitchen though.

Texting my daughters, as we often do throughout the day, I described the mayhem surrounding testing eight different cookies in one day.

Kid-of-a-Chef responded with her usual sense of humour saying,

“If it makes you feel better, my kitchen is also a disaster and I am currently ignoring it.

The sink and I are no longer talking, and the stove did something reprehensible.

I fear the fridge will be able to hold out longer than I will though,

and I will have to make nice and give it a good scrubbing to mend wounded feelings.” 😉

Thought I would share that with my readers. Hope your day was delicious!

Tell me about a kitchen disaster you have had – everyone has had one, right?

You Might Also Like:

Old Fashioned Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

Tiger Cookies

Chocolate Caramel Cookies

UrbnSpice Cookbook Series

You can find me on social media (see links below) – just be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I am sure to see it. Enjoy!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urbnspice Chef

Follow me on Social Media

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

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