Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

In 1910, inspired by the recently established Mother’s Day, a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, whose father had raised her and her five siblings as a single parent, founded a day to honor fathers. But unlike Mother’s Day, it took decades (until the 1970s) for Father’s Day to become an official national holiday. Although churches and social groups supported it, people just didn’t take the notion of a Father’s Day as seriously. Even today, when you look at the selection of Father’s Day cards and gifts available, sentimentality seems to take a back seat to humor. That’s not necessarily a bad thing--there is something to be said for giving Dad a good laugh. If the dad you’re honoring this June has a sense of humor and a taste for chocolate, he’ll love these delicious “Top Dog” bone cookies. The cookie dough includes brown sugar for a mellow sweetness, a small amount of instant espresso powder to enhance the flavor of the cocoa, and mini chocolate chips to add an extra chocolate punch. The finished cookies are coated with an easy milk chocolate Ganache and decorated with melted white chocolate. Of course these cookies can be made in any shape that relates to Dad’s interests—fishing, cars, and gardening.

Fathers don’t need elaborate gifts to know how much they’re appreciated; fix him a hero sandwich and a plate of cookies, pull up a chair, share a few good jokes, and you’ve got the ingredients for a great Father’s Day.

Ann
Ann Clark, Ltd.

Chocolate–Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 12 to 18 (depending on shape)

It’s important to use mini chocolate chips in this recipe; using regular size chips will make it too difficult to roll the dough. Espresso powder enhances the flavor of the chocolate and doesn’t add a coffee flavor but if you can’t find it, the cookies can be made without it.

Beat with an electric mixer:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Add and mix completely:
1 large egg
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sift together, then add and mix just until completely incorporated:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt

Stir in:
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill until firm. Preheat oven to 350º. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured counter to 1/4-inch thickness and cut with your favorite Ann Clark cookie cutters, then transfer the cookies onto cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment paper or silicone liners. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until the surface of the cookies looks completely dry and set. Let the cookies cool slightly on the sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Decorate, if desired, before serving.

Milk Chocolate Ganache

Bring 3/4 cup heavy cream to a boil in a small saucepan. Add 1 3/4 cups milk chocolate chips, turn off the heat, and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir until completely melted and smooth. (If the chips are not completely melted, return the saucepan to low heat for a minute or two, stirring constantly.)

My favorite shapes for Chocolate–Chocolate Chip Cookies include the Dog Bone cutter, the Acorn cookie cutter, and the Fish cookie cutter.