Dan Cookies
This name in no way represents the flavor or amazingness of this awesome recipe! But, I had to name it that!! Dan Cookies came about roughly 16 years ago when a friend of my mom brought these delicious treats to a holiday cookie exchange. Obviously, his name was Dan. Dan cookies have been at request for years after that and I always reach and grab one to pop in the microwave when I am passing by the cookie container. Before you begin, please note that these pictures do not depict it, because I neglected to get them at the store, but a MUST - A MUST - for the Dan cookies is buying Dove Milk or Dark Chocolates for them. The little ones that look like squares that come individually wrapped. It turns this cookie into a mini molten lava cookie and is IMPERATIVE for dan cookie ultimate success.
FORMULA
Yields roughly 2-3 dozen depending on size.
Flour - 425 grams (can vary depending on dough consistency)
Sugar - 350 grams
Cocoa Powder - 70 grams
Black cocoa powder - 70 grams* you can use all regular cocoa powder, but I say to indulge in this premium ingredient because it PUMPS UP the effect to a brownie cookie like base!
Unsalted butter - just above room temp - 232 grams (2 sticks)
Eggs - 2 large
Baking soda 3/4 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Vanilla bean gel - 2 tsp
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup semi sweet morsels
1-1.5 bags of Dove Chocolates - any flavor you like!
DIRECTIONS
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper
In a med/large bowl add flour, baking soda, salt and whisk. Set aside.
In your mixing bowl, cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix and mix on medium until combined.
Scrape down the bowl and slowly add in the flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time.
If needed, add additional flour 1/8 cup at a time until the dough is no longer super sticky and you can handle it to roll into balls.
Fold in all the chips.
Scoop the dough out in to roughly 1.5 inch balls. Roll gently in your hand and place them on the cookie sheets. Each sheet can take about 10-12 balls.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and lightly press each cookie with the bottom of a flat glass cup or a measuring cup to flatten a TINY bit.
Allow to cool 1-2 minutes and then place and lightly push in one Dove chocolate in to the center of each cookie.
Allow to cool on the trays completely. During this time, you can bake the other trays of cookies with the remaining dough and repeat this process.
When the Dove chocolates have pooled in the center of the cookie and become melty - sprinkle some finishing salt on top so it sticks! The should resemble little chocolate lava pools!
Once all cookies are cool to touch, remove with a spatula on to a wire rack until the chocolate in the middle has set back up.
Store in an airtight container.
*When you want to enjoy one of these delicious treats, heat it up in the microwave for 10-15 seconds!!! The chocolate will melt and the cookie is freaking PHENOMENAL! Enjoy and happy holiday baking!!!