While I’ve wrapped up the “sugar free” chocolate review series, I’m not done helping you out with New Year’s resolutions that you may or may not have made. See, since making the Occoquan Shortbread last month, I’ve had cherries, salt and chocolate on the mind.
Not entirely a bad thing. Cherries are fruit. Didn’t some of you resolve to eat more fruit for the new year? So to help you out (I’m always, always here to help you out), I’ve got a recipe for chocolate shortbread cookies with dried cherries and sea salt.
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies with Dried Cherries and Sea Salt (as adapted from Daydreamer Desserts)
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons cream
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Scharffen Berger)
8 ounces dried cherries
Mix the flour and cocoa powder in a bowl; set aside. Whip the butter and sea salt in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until fluffy, then slowly add the powdered sugar followed by the cream. Slowly add the flour-cocoa powder mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Once the dough is fairly uniform, add in the cherries and beat the dough on low speed until the cherries are just incorporated.
Shape the dough into three 1 ½” diameter cylinders, wrap in plastic wrap, and freeze for at least one hour.
Remove dough from freezer, allow to warm at room temperature for approximately 5 minutes before slicing into 1/4” discs.
Space discs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 325° F for 14-16 minutes.
Talk about a great way to get your fruit in.
Do you like baking with dried cherries?
Congrats, and thank you. I can't think of a better way to get my daily fruit allowance in. :)
ReplyDeleteI just love that you are promoting this under "Eat More Fruit." Gotta sneak it in somehow, right?
ReplyDeleteTypically I would not approve of fruit in my desserts (I feel that typically these 2 food groups need to be kept distinct), but with my recent foray into using oranges in desserts, I am a little more open minded. Perhaps this should be another test of my fruit-dessert tolerance. ^_^
ReplyDeleteI've never baked with dried cherries - they aren't easy to find here in Australia! I do like Green and Black's dark chocolate with sour cherries, though (pretty much the only G&B I do like, actually!)
ReplyDeleteOhhh man do these look like a good idea. I've only baked with them once, and that was by throwing some in brownies with chocolate chunks. The combo is Antioxidant Land, right?
ReplyDelete@Daydreamer Desserts Thank you for the recipe! It's divine.
ReplyDelete@Alina Eating enough of these would totally get you a daily serving of fruit. I just won't say how many.
ReplyDelete@Mary at n00bcakes Dried fruits are a little easier to work into desserts - in a way, they kind of act like chocolate chips by delivering a concentrated punch of flavor and a little extra sugar. Give it a try - maybe go for dried pineapples first.
ReplyDelete@Hannah Oh dear, a dried cherry shortage? You could probably try this with another kind of dried fruit - maybe your massive supply of dried mangos?
ReplyDelete@Jessica @ bake me away! It is antioxidant land, Jessica! Totally healthy. And I would love some brownies with dried cherries.
ReplyDeleteRight now.