gingerbread + dark chocolate cookies

 

this year i have decided to come up with some not so traditional holiday cookies! don't get me wrong, i have already made batches of sugar cookies & gingerbread men this month but why not mix it up a bit? it is time to experiment with the flavours of gingerbread & pair it with equally delicious ingredients (wait till you see the macadamia cookies i made for crate & barrel next). this recipe makes for the perfect freeze & bake chocolate chip style cookies. while they would of course work well for a cookie exchange party, you are probably not going to want to give these away! instead, whip up a batch to pop in your freezer & bake a few at a time as you cozy up by the fire & watch your favourite holiday movie.

this is something justin & i do year round when we make mixed up versions of chocolate chip cookies. not that we couldn't eat the whole batch at once, more so that we shouldn't. plus, who doesn't want cookies warm from the oven everytime? nothing is better then slightly melted chocolate with a gooey centre. because i make these in small batches, i typically use my toaster oven instead of having to pre-heat the big oven. KitchenAid was kind enough to send me a brand new one to test out (my current KitchenAid one was pushing 10 years old). they baked up so perfectly in it! better then my gas oven to be honest, i am still getting used to going full gas & not convection. the KitchenAid toaster oven also heats up quickly, so you will have your cookies in no time! it is also perfect for the holiday season when your oven is full of a giant turkey. you can bake or heat up your favourite side dishes in the oven too. i think my mom will be borrowing this from me this year.

anyways, this is my mix up on a gingerbread cookie! it is a mash up between my favourite classic gingerbread & my favourite chocolate chip cookie. trust me when i say these are better. the dark chocolate compliments the ginger spicers so perfectly & the pecans add a touch of crunch. if you are not a fan of nuts in your baked goods, feel free to leave it out & add a bit more dark chocolate OR even some candied ginger! so many possibilities with these.

ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup turbinado sugar (i use sugar in the raw)
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • 1/2 cup whole pecans, roughly chopped

directions

  • in a large bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves. set aside.
  • in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream the butter, brown sugar & turbinado sugar until fluffy.
  • add in the molasses, egg & vanilla extract until combined.
  • slowly add in the dry ingredients until incorporated.
  • fold in the dark chocolate chips & pecans.
  • roll into desired size balls, place in freezer bag & bake when ready.
  • to bake, pre-heat oven to 375 degrees & bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges lightly brown.

note: if you are skipping the freezer step, place cookie balls on a baking tray & pop in the freezer for 10 minutes while you preheat the oven. this ensures the cookies will not spread together & the chocolate chips hold their shape.

apple, cranberry + ginger cocktail

 

is everyone ready for christmas?! we are only TWELVE days away from the best day of the year. how is december half over though, seriously. before i get into the full holiday spirit i have a huge birthday to celebrate friday, justin turns thirty (i mean 29, again)!!!!

insert ALL the over the hill jokes

while a lot of celebratory dinners out are in order, first i am going to take him to the cheesecake factory after some last minute holiday shopping because he has never been nor heard of such a place (WHAT? crazy, i know). then we have quite a few fancy restaurants to try out in our new town. it will be very different from last year's birthday in toronto. but enough about that & more about this holiday cocktail!

the only thing just as important as baking cookies this month (stay tuned for those) is the cocktails! every party needs a signature drink so today i have teamed up with zevia to make a lighter, healthier cocktail that will help get you through the holidays (you can take that statement however you please). i used pure fruit juices & added the fizz with zevia's ginger ale. zevia is a zero calorie soda made with natural ingredients & natural sweeteners like stevia. nothing pairs better then the flavours of cider, cranberry, cinnamon & ginger! while i used a clear rum, this drink will work with just about any clear liquor. i will be sharing a fun new years cocktail next! but first stay tuned for some not so traditional christmas cookies.

ingredients

  • 1.5 oz white rum
  • 2 oz 100% cranberry juice
  • 2 oz pure apple cider
  • 2 oz zevia ginger ale
  • 1 pinch cinnamon
  • ice, for serving
  • cinnamon stick, for garnish
  • applie slice, for garnish

directions

  • in a cocktail shaker add rum, cranberry uice, apple cider, gingerale, cinnamon & ice. shake well!
  • pour into desired cocktail glass, add fresh ice & garnish with a cinnamon stick + apple slice.

artichoke + spinach dip

 

who doesn't love a classic artichoke & spinach dip!?! i am partnering with vitamix today to share the ultimate holiday starter. i thought something warmy & cheesy would make for the perfect dish to serve at any gathering! this one earns bonus points because you can prepare it in advance & bake it when you are ready to serve. anything that involves minimal prep the day of christmas dinner earns a gold star in my books! the presentation of this dip looks so inviting & rustic when served in a cast iron pot. the little twist i did from the classic version was use an aged cheddar cheese over parmesan. i love the flavour it adds & the gooey melt factor. while i served mine with freshly toasted baguette slices, you can serve it with just about anything you like! tortilla chips, pita, nann bread & so on.

NOW..i have made two versions of this in my vitamix, a hot dip (which you see here) & a cold dip (which turns out a vibrant green colour). while the hot dip is much more indulgent, the cold dip is perfect for serving along side raw vegetables. it involves the exact same ingredients below but everything gets pureed in the vitamix & served as is. no heating involved! because of the green colour the spinach turns it, we call this one the grinch's dip:) as for the hot one, everything but the spinach, artichoke hearts & cheese gets pureed in the blender. then i fold those ingredients into the mix to add texture & depth to the final dish.

now let's get blending!!!

ingredients

  • 1 cup cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 shallots, roughly chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch cracked black pepper
  • 1 cup spinach, freshly steamed, strained & roughly chopped
  • 1 cup artichoke hearts, strained & roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated old cheddar cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1 baguette, thinly sliced & toasted

directions

  • preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • place the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, shallots, garlic, salt & pepper into the vitamix. pulse until ingredients are well blended.
  • pour into a mixing bowl. fold in the strained spinach, artichokes & cheddar cheese.
  • transfer to an oven safe skillet or baking dish & top with additional cheddar cheese.
  • bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted & browned (broil for a minute or two to crisp the cheese).
  • serve immediately with toasted baguette or warm pita.