So I joined a chess group for CAS and this week it was my turn to bring the snacks. So I was thinking what can I do that takes very little time contains chocolate, is pink and delicious.... WELL PINK CHECKERBOARD COOKIES! Its pink, has chocolate and doesn't take a lot of time (if you cheat) .... and a bonus is that its totally appropriate for chess.
They are not as perfect as I would have liked them to be and the photos are quite dark and don't show just how intense the pink is. But some compromises have to be made if you are an IB student and don't get home until after 6. But the reason I like this blog post is because of the cheat I thought of while sitting on the bus on Thursday.
This recipe is from the Swedish cookbook Sju sorters kakor. It is like the staple cookbook that is there in every single Swedish kitchen. I substituted the vanilla sugar for essence since I still haven't bought vanilla sugar.
Mix the sugar, butter and flour in a bowl until well combined, I used this potato mashing tool since I was lazy and I didn't want to get my hands dirty, It failed I had to use my fingers anyway.
Then divide the dough into two equal parts and put them in separate bowls. mine were not equal so instead of putting a little more into the other bowl I just ate the excess.
Then divide the dough into two equal parts and put them in separate bowls. mine were not equal so instead of putting a little more into the other bowl I just ate the excess.
Then add vanilla essence and pink food coloring into one bowl and cocoa into the other bowl.
Mix thoroughly. Now for my favorite part the CHEAT!
Mix thoroughly. Now for my favorite part the CHEAT!
In the recipe from the book you are supposed to roll divide the dough into 4 parts ( 2 pink and 2 brown) and then alternate create a checkerboard design. I am not gifted when it comes to making cookies, they are my biggest nightmare, the same goes for tart and pie shells ( basically any kind of dough), so for me this recipe would take AGES! The butter in the dough will melt because of the heat from my hands and while rolling the dough it will break into pieces. But with this technique YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT! Its not cheating unless someone notices (something I learnt from chess.. jk).
First take a square cake tin and cover it with cling film, then press the cocoa dough into it, creating an even layer. Next press the pink dough into the pan making sure not to press the dough too much, since it will cause your pink dough to mix with the brown dough and want them to be separate! Then cover it and put it into the fridge or freezer for 10 min.
First take a square cake tin and cover it with cling film, then press the cocoa dough into it, creating an even layer. Next press the pink dough into the pan making sure not to press the dough too much, since it will cause your pink dough to mix with the brown dough and want them to be separate! Then cover it and put it into the fridge or freezer for 10 min.
Cut the block of dough into pieces and take two pieces and press them together. Take one piece and turn it over to create the checkerboard design. Yes I know I am using a meat cleaver but I love that knife.
Cut the cookies into half a centimeter thick slices and press them out on a baking tray. If you do it right you will get perfect squares, if you do it wrong it and press too much it will end up like the cookie in the bottom left corner.
Put these babies into a pre-heated oven at 175 º C for 10 min and enjoy! If you want perfect squares just take a meat cleaver and chop of the excess.
Checkerboard cookies: 175º C , about 50 cookies
4.5- 5 dl of all purpose flour (450-500 ml)
1 dl of Sugar ( I used more since I like my cookies sweet and extra unhealthy) (100 ml)
200 g of Butter
2 tbsp cocoa
2tsp of vanilla sugar
A drop of pink food coloring
Mix flour, sugar and butter in a bowl until everything us well combined. Then separate the dough into two parts, flavour and colour one with vanilla essence and mix cocoa into the other. Then press the cocoa dough into a cake tin and gently press the pink one over it. Next put it into a fridge or freezer so that the dough firms up a bit. Then cut into strips and press together. Next cut it into 3-4 mm thick slices and press out on a baking tray if needed, bake in a pre-heated oven for 10 min and serve!
Enjoy!
/Alysha
Total amount of CAS hours
1h on Baking
1,5h on Photo editing and blog post.
4.5- 5 dl of all purpose flour (450-500 ml)
1 dl of Sugar ( I used more since I like my cookies sweet and extra unhealthy) (100 ml)
200 g of Butter
2 tbsp cocoa
2tsp of vanilla sugar
A drop of pink food coloring
Mix flour, sugar and butter in a bowl until everything us well combined. Then separate the dough into two parts, flavour and colour one with vanilla essence and mix cocoa into the other. Then press the cocoa dough into a cake tin and gently press the pink one over it. Next put it into a fridge or freezer so that the dough firms up a bit. Then cut into strips and press together. Next cut it into 3-4 mm thick slices and press out on a baking tray if needed, bake in a pre-heated oven for 10 min and serve!
Enjoy!
/Alysha
Total amount of CAS hours
1h on Baking
1,5h on Photo editing and blog post.