Chocolate Shortbread with Cacao Nibs and Sea Salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cacao nibs, crushed with a rolling pin
- 1 teaspoon fine or coarse sea salt
- 12 tablespoons (6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Position the racks in the lower and upper thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 325F.
- Line two baking sheets with Silpats or parchment paper.
- Combine the flour and cocoa powder in a small bowl.
- Combine the nibs and sea salt in another small bowl.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy, stopping as necessary to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Mix in the vanilla.
- Add about half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed.
- Add the remaining flour-cocoa mixture, stopping as necessary to scrape the bowl.
- Once incorporated, mix on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Mix in the nibs and salt.
- (The dough can be refrigerated, well wrapped, for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 2 months.)
- On a lightly floured board, or between two pieces of parchment paper, roll the dough into a square 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut into 1 by 2 1/2-inch rectangles or other desired shape, by hand or with a cookie cutter, and place on the prepared pans about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 15 minutes, rotating the pans once halfway through baking.
- It is sometimes difficult to know when chocolate cookies are done.
- One of the best indications is the scent of baked cookies in the air.
- And when these shortbread cookies are gently nudged, they shouldnt feel soft but the bottoms should seem crisp.
- Remove the pans from the oven and transfer the shortbread to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
flour, cocoa, cacao nibs, salt, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla
Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/chocolate-shortbread-with-cacao-nibs-and-sea-salt (may not work)