Chocolate Cookies With Fleur De Sel Food

CHOCOLATE COOKIES WITH FLEUR DE SEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.
• Combine butter and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until chocolate is melted and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well to incorporate each one. Add brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla extract; mix well. Fold in flour mixture until no dry streaks remain. Fold in chocolate chunks.
• Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of cookie dough onto a baking stone or nonstick cookie sheets. Sprinkle fleur de sel over the tops.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookies flatten but centers still look soft, 10 to 14 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

FLEUR DE SEL CARAMELS

Steps:

• Prep the pan.
• Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing it to drape over 2 sides, then brush the paper lightly with oil.
• Boil the sugar.
• In a deep saucepan (6 inches wide and 4 1/2 inches deep), combine 1/4 cup water, the sugar and corn syrup and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until the mixture is a warm golden brown. Don't stir -- just swirl the pan.
• Heat the cream.
• In the meantime, in a small pot, bring the cream, butter and 1 teaspoon of fleur de sel to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat and set aside.
• Finish the caramel.
• When the sugar mixture is done, turn off the heat and slowly add the cream mixture to the sugar mixture. Be careful -- it will bubble up violently. Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon and cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, until the mixture reaches 248 degrees F (firm ball) on a candy thermometer.
• Fill the pan.
• Very carefully (it's hot!) pour the caramel into the prepared pan and refrigerate for a few hours, until firm.
• Cut the caramel.
• When the caramel is cold, pry the sheet from the pan onto a cutting board. Cut the square in half.
• Roll it up.
• Starting with a long side, roll the caramel up tightly into an 8-inch-long log.
• Cut into pieces.
• Sprinkle the log with fleur de sel, trim the ends and cut into 8 pieces. (Start by cutting the log in half, then continue cutting each piece in half until you have 8 equal pieces.) It's easier to cut the caramels if you brush the knife with flavorless oil like corn oil.
• Wrap the candies.
• Cut glassine or parchment paper into 4-by-5-inch pieces and wrap each caramel individually, twisting the ends. Store in the refrigerator and serve the caramels chilled.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH FLEUR DE SEL

Steps:

• Create an ice bath in a large bowl using ice and a little cold water. Nestle a smaller bowl in ice bath.
• Place chocolate and 1 cup water in a small pot and heat over medium. Whisk until mixture is melted and smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Immediately pour melted chocolate into the bowl in the ice bath. Vigorously whisk chocolate mixture by hand until thick, 3 to 5 minutes. The chocolate should be fluffy and form a mound when dolloped with the whisk (it should generally have the texture and appearance of mousse). If the mixture does not thicken, add a bit more chopped chocolate and remelt over the heat. Spoon into serving bowls and garnish with fleur de sel.

DARK CHOCOLATE BROWNIE COOKIES WITH FLEUR DE SEL

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
• Place the chocolate and butter in a double boiler (or a medium heatproof bowl over a medium saucepan of barely simmering water--do not let the bowl touch the water) and heat over low heat, stirring often, until melted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside but keep warm.
• Combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat together starting on low speed and slowly increasing the speed to medium, until light and creamy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Combine the flour, espresso powder, baking powder and fine sea salt in a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
• With the mixer running on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the beaten eggs and mix for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides. With the mixer running on low speed, pour in the melted chocolate. Stir until everything is fully incorporated without overworking the batter, 30 to 45 seconds.
• Let the dough sit for 5 minutes to firm up.
• Using a 1-tablespoon portion scoop, scoop 6 to 8 mounds of the dough and place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart. If the dough spreads out, it needs more time to firm up. Sprinkle the tops with fleur de sel.
• Bake on the center rack until the tops of the cookies look cracked and shiny, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute to set up, if necessary, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely.
• Repeat the scooping and baking with the remaining dough.

CHEWY CHOCOLATE COOKIES WITH FLEUR DE SEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium high speed until light and creamy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each. Add the vanilla.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to the mixer and mix until just combined. Scoop by the rounded tablespoon onto the prepared sheet pan and flatten slightly with your hand. Sprinkle the tops with fleur de sel.
• Bake until edges are crisp, about 9 minutes. Let cool on the pan for a few minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES WITH FLEUR DE SEL

Steps:

• Make sure you read the cooking notes before you start.
• Step 1 - In a large mixing bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar and sugar until fully incorporated and shiny. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and mix again until fully incorporated.
• Step 2 - Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Fold in these dry ingredients with a spatula until just combined - do not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Step 3 - Pre-heat your oven to 350F (180C) with a rack in the middle. Prepare two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Shape little balls of cookie dough, weighing 60g each (about 2 tablespoons) and place them 3 inches apart onto the baking sheets. Sprinkle Fleur de Sel on top of each ball.
• Bake each baking sheet for 17 minutes, until the cookies are just set and lightly golden on the edges. Let cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheets and then transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

FLEUR DE SEL CHOCOLATE CHIP BLONDIES

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 13-inch jelly roll pan with softened butter or cooking spray.
• Beat your butter in the bowl of a stand mixer until it is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the brown and granulated sugars a little bit at a time, pouring them in on the side of the bowl. While you're adding your sugars, stop the mixer occasionally and scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure that everything is fully mixed. Cream the butter and sugar mixture until it is light and fluffy, about 8 minutes. (Creaming creates air pockets in the dough, and therefore these blondies have a light and delicate texture.)
• Whisk your flour, baking soda and sea salt, if using, in a bowl. (Add the salt only if desired because there is plenty on top of the finished brownies.) Add your eggs 1 at a time, adding the second only after the first is fully incorporated. Once the second egg is fully incorporated, add your vanilla. Turn your mixer down to low speed and slowly add the flour mixture. Once the dry ingredients are fully incorporated into the wet ingredients, add in all those chocolate chips. Your machine will seem to be struggling to mix in the chocolate chips because there are so many of them, but don't turn it up, leave it on low and allow it to fully mix the chips in. Spread your cookie dough into the prepared jelly roll. Evenly sprinkle the top of the dough with the fleur de sel.
• Pop the blondies in the oven until they are golden brown on top and not wobbly in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow the blondies to cool in the pan on a wire rack or on a dishtowel on your counter.
• Cut the blondies, still in the pan, with a sharp knife into bars, about 48 pieces. Remove with a spatula and serve. (Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 week, but they will not last that long!)

CARAMEL-DARK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES WITH FLEUR DE SEL

Steps:

• Place 8 ounces chocolate in metal bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water); stir until chocolate is smooth. Remove chocolate from over water.
• Combine sugar and 2 tablespoons water in small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves, occasionally brushing sides of pan with wet pastry brush. Increase heat; boil until syrup is deep amber color, brushing down sides and swirling pan occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add cream (mixture will bubble). Stir over very low heat until caramel is smooth. Mix caramel and 1/4 teaspoon fleur de sel into melted chocolate. Chill until truffle filling is firm, at least 3 hours.
• Place cocoa in bowl. Using 1 tablespoon truffle filling for each truffle, roll into balls, then roll in cocoa. Arrange on baking sheet. Cover; chill overnight.
• Line 13x9x2-inch baking sheet with foil. Place remaining 12 ounces chocolate in medium metal bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water); stir until chocolate is melted and smooth and thermometer inserted into chocolate registers 115°F. Remove bowl from over water. Working quickly, submerge 1 truffle in melted chocolate. Using fork, lift out truffle and tap fork against side of bowl to allow excess coating to drip off. Transfer truffle to prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining truffles. Sprinkle truffles lightly with additional fleur de sel. Let stand until coating sets, at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

NUTELLA COOKIES WITH FLEUR DE SEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, kosher salt, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Beat the butter, chocolate-hazelnut spread, brown sugar and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks and hazelnuts by hand.
• Drop 12 heaping tablespoonfuls of dough onto each of the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Roll the dough into balls. Sprinkle each dough ball with fleur de sel. Freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cookies are golden around the edges but still soft in the middle, about 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely, about 30 minutes.