Tobacco Cookies

• 1 cup firmly packed sweetened coconut flakes
• 1 1/2 cups brewed coffee
• 3/4 cup cola
• 2 teaspoons molasses
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons Tobacco Water (recipe follows)
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 14 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons chopped tobacco leaves (reserved from cigar used to make Tobacco Water)
• 1 good cigar
• 3 cups warm water

1. Preheat the oven to 355u0b0F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. To make the tobacco water: Peel half of the layers off the cigar and discard. Separate the inner tobacco leaves. Reserve 2 tablespoons' worth of chopped leaves to use in cookies; set aside. Rinse remaining leaves under warm water for 3 minutes. Fill a small bowl with the 3 cups warm water and steep the tobacco leaves in the water for 10 minutes. Strain the water and discard the tobacco leaves. The tobacco water will be quite strong, with a nicotine sting.
3. To make the coconut flakes: In a medium saucepan, combine the coconut, coffee, cola, molasses, sugar, and tobacco water. Bring to a boil over high heat and boil for about 20 minutes, until all the liquid has been cooked off. Transfer the coconut flakes to a baking sheet and allow to cool to room temperature.
4. To make the cookies: In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and stir together with a fork. Melt the chocolate and butter over a double boiler. Allow to cool slightly.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, buttermilk, vanilla, and tobacco. Stir into the chocolate mixture, then stir the flour mixture into this batter.
6. Spoon the dough 1 tablespoon at a time onto the prepared baking sheet. Leave room in between for the cookies to spread while baking.
7. Top each cookie with a little of the tobacco coconut flakes. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cookie tops crack but the cookies are still soft in the center. Let cool for 3 minutes before handling. Lift with a spatula and transfer the cookies to a wire rack. Or let cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

coconut flakes, coffee, cola, molasses, sugar, water, flour, baking powder, salt, chocolate, unsalted butter, eggs, sugar, buttermilk, vanilla, tobacco leaves, cigar, warm water

Taken from www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/05/tobacco-cookies-recipe.html (may not work)