Fudge Tops
- 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup superfine sugar
- Pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Chocolate Ganache, recipe follows
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 10 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, using an electric mixer or by hand using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, beat the butter, sugar, salt and vanilla until well combined.
- Do not overmix; you don't want the butter to become fluffy.
- Scrape down the bowl using a rubber spatula and beat for a few more seconds.
- Sift the flour into the bowl and mix on low speed or by hand just until absorbed.
- Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula and mix again for a few seconds.
- Turn the dough onto the table, gather it together, and knead gently into a smooth mass.
- The dough can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Form the dough into a round patty and quarter into 4 even pieces.
- Roll each piece into a log and cut each log into 10 even pieces.
- Roll each piece into a 3/4-inch ball-about the size of a large marble.
- Place the balls about 1 1/2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and flatten gently and evenly with the heel of your hand so that they're about 1/4-inch thick.
- Bake for 22 minutes, or until the cookies just begin to color and the bottoms are golden.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
- If the ganache was made 2 hours before, it will be soft and moussy.
- Whisk it a few times to thicken.
- If the ganache was made earlier in the day or the day before, it will be stiff.
- Warm it briefly, stirring gently, until it softens a little.
- Whisk it with 1 or 2 quick strokes.
- Be sure the cookies are completely cool.
- Place the ganache in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
- Holding the bag in a vertical position about 1/2-inch above the cookies, pipe a large dollop of chocolate, leaving a small border of cookie showing around the edge.
- Repeat with the remaining cookies.
- The chocolate will firm up in about 1 hour.
- To hasten the process, refrigerate the cookies for 5 minutes.
- Serve at room temperature.
- In a small pot, scald the cream until bubbles appear around the edge and it's just about to boil.
- Remove from heat and stir in the chopped chocolate.
- Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth and dark.
- Transfer to a small bowl and set aside to cool until it thickens, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours.
- The ganache can be made the day before and left covered, at room temperature, overnight.
unsalted butter, sugar, salt, vanilla, flour, chocolate ganache, heavy cream, chocolate
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/fudge-tops-recipe.html (may not work)