Cookies

Berger Cookies

January 19, 2014 by Charles 2 Comments

After making, among other things, our Rosemary Pepita Granola and our Cajun Spiced Almonds for our out-of-town guests, Caitlin and I sat down to brainstorm our end-of-the-evening favor. With the wedding and reception in the heart of Baltimore, Caitlin suggested a quintessential Baltimore dessert.

I asked her what that might be.

Caitlin noted that it was the Berger cookie, a shortbread cookie topped with a thick layer of chocolate frosting, and long considered one of the best cookies in Baltimore. A quick search of the Internet revealed a recipe from King Arthur flour.

Satisfied with the recipe, …

Russian Cigarettes

March 7, 2012 by Charles 3 Comments

Whenever I opened a variety box of Pepperidge Farm cookies, I always reached for the same cookie first. Among the Milanos, the Chessman, the Bordeaux, and the Brussels, I made my bee-line for the cigarettes. I loved the crunchy, yet sweet delicateness in each bite. I loved the color and texture. But, more than anything else, I think I just loved the fun shape. For some inexplicable reason, I loved the idea of a tube cookie!

These cigarettes and the Pepperidge Farm variety share a common ancestry, but these lack some of the crunchiness…

Blondie Layer Cake with White Chocolate Icing

December 9, 2011 by Charles 16 Comments

Caitlin celebrated her birthday last week. And in preparation of the big day, I scanned my collection of recipes and cookbooks, searching for the perfect layer cake. Last year I made her the pumpkin crepe cake. The year before that, the butternut squash layer cake.

This year, I decided, it was time to stray from the harvest theme. I was looking through my cookbooks, feeling uninspired, when I resolved to make my own cake. No recipe. No guide. I would just with it….

Chocolate Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies

October 5, 2011 by Charles 6 Comments

You have to applaud the marketing efforts of Nutella. Nutella is, as the box proudly proclaims, little more than sugar and a mix of hazelnuts and cocoa. Indeed, the first ingredient listed is sugar. Owing to its healthy mix of hazelnuts, the spread also has its share of fat. And yet, Nutella is branded as a necessary component of a balanced breakfast – as if it contained some vital, indispensable nutrients. In almost all of its marketing literature, Nutella is featured at the breakfast table.

In fairness, Nutella does not advocate downing spoonful after spoonful of its spread. Instead, the company notes that without Nutella, you might forego that piece of otherwise boring whole wheat toast. In that respect, …

Ritz Cracker Cookies with Peanut Butter Chips

March 3, 2011 by Charles 14 Comments

I’m a sucker for a good recipe contest. Cooking, for me, is already a fun and creative hobby. So the thought of prize money is just icing on top.

One day in the supermarket, I passed a giant display of Ritz Crackers, complete with football goal posts, inflated balloons, and a nearly life-size cutout of Guy Fieri. Drawing closer, I saw that Kraft was running a recipe contest for its Ritz Crackers. With a grand prize of $20,000, I decided to grab a box or two, and see what I could do.

My first thought was toward a cookie. …