The Christmas season is well upon us. We put up more lights outside today as the Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade is Saturday night. The parade goes by the back yard and we can’t be blank, can we? That’s not very supportive of our community. That’s what I told John anyway and he nodded like one of those toy dogs that people used to put in the back windows of cars.
That’s much better than, “Don’t be stupid, we don’t need lights!” He told me that once a long time ago and I ignored him and put them up anyway. Ever since then he just goes along with me.
My reasoning is much different than my mother’s. When I was young she wanted candles in all the windows and my father thought it was a ridiculous expense just for Christmas. My mother moped and mumbled but he was adamant, he had 3 children to buy presents for and there wasn’t money for window candles.
Not to be undone, one night at dinner she had one final attempt and said, “Walter, if we don’t have candles in our windows, people are going to think we’re Jewish!”
He burst out laughing and said, “Anne, if you want candles, buy candles but nobody is going to think we’re Jewish, we know nearly everyone.” That’s how it is in a very small town in Maine.
I had a lot to do today AND I needed to make a new post so I looked around for a cookie recipe that would not only photograph well, would taste good enough to give away. I had some toffee I’d made and crushed into small pieces so a chocolate chip and almond toffee crunch cookie seemed the way to go. These are my entry into Patience Brewster’s online cookie exchange. Never heard of Patience Brewster? I’ll admit it was new to me too. Check out these gorgeous Christmas ornaments.
I am a fantatic for mise en place and quickly had all the ingredients lined up on the counter and wham bam, the cookie batter was done. I followed another blogger’s recipe to the letter. I popped it in the fridge for an hour and then mixed in the chocolate and toffee and scooped some batter on baking paper lined sheets.
In the oven it went and about halfway through the baking I peeked in the oven and gave an audible gasp. My cookies melded into a cake – a VERY flat cake.
I went back to the drawing board and added more flour as I know that will stop the spreading and make a more cake like cookie. I didn’t want cake like but I didn’t want to eat them with a spoon. (That said, eating them with a spoon was fantastic!)
Version 2.0 was a winner but I can’t give you THIS recipe because frankly, I had to fiddle with it. I should have used my own recipe below. Or you can use your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and add some homemade bashed toffee or if you’re lucky enough to be able to buy toffee pieces already bashed, go for it.
Here’s my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. You’ll find my recipe for almond toffee crunch with my panna cotta recipe.
- 2 cups plus 3 tablespoons plain flour
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 227 grams (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- ½ cup almond toffee crunch
- Preheat oven to 190C/375F and line baking sheet with paper or use a silicone mat.
- Whisk the dry ingredients together (except chocolate and toffee) in a bowl.
- Place the butter and sugars in the mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes
- Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat another minute longer.
- Add the eggs and the vanilla extract and beat only until incorporated.
- Add the flour mixture by spoonsful until all used and just barely incorporated. You don't want to develop the gluten and make the cookies tough.
- Remove the bowl and fold in the chocolate and toffee and place in the refrigerator for an hour.
- Using a small ice cream scoop, spoon the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches between each cookie, and bake on the middle rack until the cookies are lightly golden brown and still soft in the middle, about 11 minutes.
- Once baked, cool in the pan for 2 minutes before placing on a cooling rack.
A cookie that tastes like Toblerone?! I’m in!!! 🙂
Sort of, Krista, sort of 🙂
My kind of cookie! YUM!
Love the story about your parents. Bill and I bicker back and forth every year b/c I want white lights on our tree and he wants colored. I compromise on white outside and colored inside.
Lovely cookies! So luscious.
Happy Holidays.
Cheers,
Rosa
Maureen these cookies look delicious:):
I want to come watch the boat parade. What a fun tradition. I know I’d love the cookies too.
Oh wouldn’t that be fun. We have a HUGE deck along the water that can hold a bazillion people and there would be a special place just for you. 🙂
These cookies and recipe both look so good that I can’t wait to try them–a cookie recipe from Down Under!. That makes it extra special.
We are just now putting up our Christmas decorations too, later than usual. Life gets in the way sometimes, doesn’t it.
Merry Christmas from Texas Maureen and John!
Karen and Mac
We still have two 20 meter rope lights to put up, the skirt under the tree is all wadded up where the dog decided it was a new bed, the crate that held the tree decorations is still waiting to be hauled back to the garage – and I’m blogging. 🙂 I understand completely.
You simply crack me up! Comparing your beloved husband to one of those dog toys… my gosh that was priceless! You know, I totally deleted from my memory those toys, and now I cannot stop thinking about them, they were very popular in Brazil when I was growing up, and I remember having a bit of dizziness staring at some….
loved the cookies, I made a toffee earlier this year, but overcooked the butter part and the pictures turned out so bad that I refused to blog on them. Should re-visit because even over cooked they were mighty tasty
Happy Holidays, have fun with the lights, and please post PHOTOS!!!!!
I’ve done that so many times – baked a whole batch of cookies before making sure that they had enough flour. Long live the ‘test cookie’. I love the story of your parents and your mom’s argument for candles…I do love having at least a few strings of lights out this time of year…
Reading blogs at this time of year is dangerous. So many dessert and cookie recipes and my pants are ‘seriously’ tight. So, I won’t be doing a lot of baking even if I’m imagining the delicious taste of these cookies with a glass of milk or coffee. 🙂
And, I love your Xmas present shaped cookie jar.
Great looking cookie! And more often than not I have problems photographing cookies — something I need to work on, I guess. So I should probably make several batches of this, just so I can practice my photography! Assuming any last long enough to be photographed, that is. 😉
Maureen – you have John trained so well 😉
Btw – I deal with cookie “spread” too – I haven’t been able to figure out the why behind it – I am thinking it’s been the type of butter – because when I use melted coconut oil – everything is fine!
Thanks for sharing your recipe for a totally mouthwatering cookie!
Mmmm – I think the first attempt looks pretty delicious too – Maureen – maybe not so good for giving but bet John has been enjoying them!
John doesn’t eat sweets other than on the odd occasion or profiteroles. He could eat every profiterole he finds. 🙂
Wow looks so uber moist, love this for a Christmas giveaway
Gorgeous pictures and super great recipe. So wish I had five or six cookies in front of me to try. YUM! *licks lips*
Once again Maureen, a yummy story all round! A few laughs, pretty pictures, a bit of history, a tasty recipe, & a stirring of the imagination…..
Thankyou once again
:)) xx
Love these cookies, Maureen! Toffee crunch works every time. Great funny post with a great recipe!
Hi Maureen, I bet the boat parade is spectacular, love these cookies, especially the bits of toffee.
I’ve had plenty of cookies like that. And I have candles in the windows, only they are menorahs!
I think I wet myself laughing at this comment. I love you to bits. You’d ‘get’ my mother.
Such a fun story… and I can just imagine how beautiful your place looks with all the lights!
Toffee, aprons…? I’m beginning to wonder if we share some brain cells? Beautiful cookies and great story. I always enjoy what you write. I’m thinking of everyone in Australia and so admire the strength and compassion being shown during such a difficult time.
We must share something 🙂 It’s a difficult time trying to understand why this happened. Many of us are questioning why this fellow was allowed to walk the streets in the first place.
The cookies look wonderful Maureen, I’d even eat the flat ones, that’s how delicious toffee and chocolate sound right now! The boat parade sounds lovely, I wish I could see it!
I LOVE these cookies! Chocolate and toffee crunch…are these real?
LOL even the fail was real 🙂
I love how you just happened to have home made toffee in the house. The underside of that cookie looks divine – sweet, caramel and crunchy:)
LOL I made more than I needed and it went into the pantry and when I moved something to get to something else I saw it and thought it was time to use it or toss it away. That’s how a lot of things happen at my house – by accident rather than planning.
You had me at Toffee bit! I don’t mean ms a thin cookie at all but it can be disappointing if you were expecting something else. I’m sure your lights will be perfect. Why can’t guys just learn to nod and do what we say? So much easier.
Maureen, you made me laugh a few times reading this post! I think my dad owned one of those small dogs; I remember that thing bobbing it’s head in the back of the car. And the story about your parents was so cute; and I can totally relate. Here at our house, I’m the one who is opposed to buying outdoor lights. I don’t want the expense nor the work. But my hubby swore that he will do it all on his own one day, and I won’t even get to pick the lights! GASP.
I find your honesty about the recipe so refreshing! Hugs.
I love toblerone and would definitely like these chocolate chip and almond toffee crunch cookies! In fact if it wasn’t so late I am tempted to whip up a batch right now haha
Your experience today sounds just like quite a few I had last week!! I know it is terrible to say this, but I approach blogger recipes with extreme caution nowadays unless it is from a blogger I know and trust. I once made a choc chip recipe from a popular blogger that had been pinned gazillions of times and it failed 4 times. I even wrote a comment but their response didn’t help. I was really grumpy because I was sure there had to be a reason why that recipe was so popular! I never figured it out. I had a similar problem to you, it just spread so thin they covered the whole tray!
I want to try your recipe. I know it’s from your pre Aus days cause you are using stick measurements 🙂
Love to see your lights! Share, share!!
I’m thinking I’m going to have to put some candles in my windows or everyone might think we’re Jewish – not that there’s anything wrong with that! I do love an orderly kitchen and I like to line up my mise on place too. I’ve had some attempts at things where I have to try, try and try again. I do love the look of your cookies xx
LOL I’ve told you that my mother was weird. She got her candles though!
What a shame about the first recipe! 🙁 And how funny that your mother made that comment-I was thinking “Didn’t Maureen grow up in a small town in Maine?” to myself 😛
LOL yes. It was a town of 10,000 and all the Jewish families lived in Waterville, across the river. That’s just how it was. Probably 90% of Winslow residents were Roman Catholic so everyone met at Sunday mass a few times a year. There were 5 masses starting at 6am on Sundays so it was possible not to meet everyone but mostly we did.
Wow, what a way to jazz up chocolate chip cookies. Anything with ‘toffee’ can’t be resisted. Buon Natale to both your husband and you, Maureen. Thinking of everyone in Australia after the incident we’ve heard about on the news.
Be well,
Roz
Toffee adds so much dimension to chocolate chip cookies. I’ll take a dozen, please. 😉
Holidays can’t be without chocolate chip cookies. I love that you added toffee crunch. Happy holidays Maureen!
I can’t ever make cookies with toffee bits in them because I end up eating the whole bag before I can get the batter made. 🙁 But this recipe sounds delicious.
You had me from the first photo, these cookies are so perfect! Toffee and chocolate together? I’m in love 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
In think candles in every window is just the prettiest look for Christmas. Actually, all through the winter I love that look as it makes a home feel cozy and warm 🙂
And baking cookies seems to warm a home as well. I love the toffee in these cookies…and they photographed so well!
Damn delicious sweet bites!!!
These look scrumptious, hands down fav is toffee for me!!
oh i love all the extra special suprises inside the cookie- the crunch the almond the toffee! its like the best cookie ever- my favorites all rolled into one!
Cookies Schmookies- these look so good! When we’re in South Australia during Christmas time, we never put up Christmas lights because it stays light until 9:00 pm- which is almost our bedtime!
We don’t have daylight savings up here in Queensland. The ONLY days it doesn’t suck is Christmas lights time.
The cookies sound super addictive and they wouldn’t last long at my house.
Love the story about your parents, at the end women always win 😉 Your cookies looks so good, they are perfect for my coffee !
I’ll admit, I’m not a huge cookie person, but this recipe is one I would go “nuts” for! No, really.
Your story reminds me of my father “We don’t need a christmas tree if we have to buy gifts for the kids…”
We in Goa don’t even give gifts anymore because nobody has time anyway during the high tourist season.
Maureen, I wish I had a batch of your cookies waiting for me right now, they would sweeten my day. We could exchange cookies! =D
I’d love that. I want something with poppy seeds. 🙂
Sorry about the cookie mishap, but you’re tweaked recipe looks delicious! I love toffee with chocolate.
John is a smart man. He knows to upset the cook would leave him without yummy morsels like these cookies–I love the crunch these have and they’re perfect for the season!
I like candles in the window at Christmastime too! The near miss on the cookies became winners for these are the flavors I hanker for this season. Lovely work, Maureen.
I love almond toffee, what a fabulous cookie! I’ll take a dozen, please! 🙂
I absolutely LOVE Mooloolaba Boat Parade. Have done it on a boat and onshore. I think onshore is more fun. These cookies look delicious – tweeting. I am buying Easy Recipe Plugin today so I will let you know how I go. Much much love xxx
Love these cookies Maureen! I even love the look of the failure. Nice and crispy. 🙂 Hope you and your family have a very wonderful and joyous holiday season!
I cracked up laughing at the Jewish bit xD I’m so into the holidays! It’s my absolute favorite time of year. I’d say for the entire month of December I have my Santa hat on, humming Christmas tunes ad nauseam. Ahh it’s only once a year and it goes by much too quickly.
These cookies are irresistible Maureen! Save some for me? ;3
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year my dear friend. It’s been a wonderful year following your site. I love reading your stories and getting to know Charlie. Here’s to many more fabulous recipes and happy times.
xo
This is my very favorite cookie. Yesterday at Fresh Market I couldn’t resist having one of theirs to munch on as I shopped. It was good but probably not as good as yours.
We have all had moments like that when it just goes wrong for no reason! Glad you were able to alter them to get them to work, look great. I hope your outside lights look fab I initially had to fight to have some but Michael just gave up and let me do what I wanted, especially after all the neighbours lit up their gardens like Christmas trees!
Maureen, adding toffee to the chocolate chips cookie is just a delicious idea…I can imagine how these cookies must taste…yum!
Thanks for the idea…hope you are having a fabulous week 🙂
Oh yes these would disappear if I made them. I love the toffee crunch to the cookie. Your cookie jar is too cute!
I would love these cookies, they look delicious Maureen! I can buy Heath Bar cookie chips in 12 ounce bags at our local grocery. The Heath Bar chips are just the bars all broken in small pieces and I use them to make cookies very similar to what you made!
They look delicious!
Merry Christmas to you Maureen!
Michael
http://instagram.com/michaelswoodcraft