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My foodie friend, Carrie, of Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen, asked me to be her guest on Valentine’s Day! So, of course, I had to cook up something chocolate. Triple chocolate, in fact. I belong to a volunteer organization that raises funds for our county hospital…and we do this by putting on an annual Decorators’ Show House. Local interior decorators and landscapers work their magic on a stately home, then it is open to the public for two weeks in the spring. In late January, our members get to spend an evening touring the undecorated house while enjoying nibbles for dinner…some from a caterer, some donated by restaurants, and others cooked up by guild members. Crazy me volunteered to bring in something chocolate to serve 75! This cheesecake was one of 3 desserts I baked for our Landmark Celebration. Thank goodness Bill was invited to this party…I would have been in deep trouble taking all this chocolate goodness out of the house without letting him have a sample….or two…or three…
Carrie and I met via foodbuzz…and thank goodness we still have Google+ to keep in touch. Please pop over to her blog to see this decadent, perfect for your Valentine, ultra chocolate recipe!
Connect with Carrie here:
A few tips for the perfect cheesecake:
- Have your cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs at room temperature. This help make a smoother batter and ultimately a smoother cheesecake.
- Do not overmix your cheesecake batter. Using a paddle attachment will prevent unwanted air from being whipped into batter. Mix in eggs till just incorporated.
- Bake your cheesecake in a water bath or bain marie. This keeps an even baking temperature and minimizes cracking.
- Make sure to wrap your springform pan with a double layer of foil to prevent any water seepage from the bain marie
- Do not open the door of the oven till near the end of the baking time
- Cool the cheesecake slowly (in the oven if your recipe states, then on the counter till room temperature, then in the fridge)
- Take the cheesecake out of the fridge about ½ hour before serving to take the chill off.
A few of my wonderful French Fridays with Dorie friends and I exchanged Valentine’s cookies this year. I was the lucky recipient of Salty Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Betsy, of A Plateful of Happiness. When my package arrived, I immediately opened the beautiful floral box and was greeted by an amazing, intense chocolate aroma. Truly a heavenly introduction to these crisp chocolate filled cookies with a dusting of flaky sea salt. The taste was nothing short of awesome…plus I was also given a set of festive red and white napkins (aren’t they cute???) and 3 handmade heart garlands. Yup, I struck the jackpot! THANKS so much, Betsy; you outdid yourself…but I’m not complaining. Part of this exchange includes sharing the recipe of the cookies we received…isn’t that wonderful?
I sent a package of Death by Chocolate Cookies to my sweet FFwD friend, Guyla, of Lola’s Kitchen. A special thanks goes to Alice, of A Cooking Miser, for organizing us!
Ingredients
- From Bon Appetit via Betsy of A Plateful of Happiness
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 large egg
- 8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (72% or less), coarsely chopped
- Maldon salt or other flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 375º. Whisk flour, baking powder, kosher salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Using an electric mixer on medium, beat butter, brown sugar, sugar and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Add egg yolks, egg and vanilla. Beat, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl, until mixture is pale and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to low; slowly add dry ingredients, mixing just to blend. Using a spatula, fold in chocolate.
- Spoon rounded tablespoonfuls of cookie dough onto 2 parchment lined baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Sprinkle centers with sea salt. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until just golden brown around the edges, 10-12 minutes. Let cool slightly on baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks; let cool completely.
- Yield: 2 dozen cookies
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
You make a perfect cake, Lizzy! I appreciate you shared valuable tips on how to make cheesecake. That kind of advice and tips are so important for a beginner like me.
We can always count on you with fabulous chocolate recipes on days like this one Liz!
Love the cookie recipe – but what cookies did you SEND ? And to who??
Oops…good question, Mardi!!! I sent Death by Chocolate Cookies (surprised????) to our sweet friend, Guyla.
I love a good cookie recipe! These look fantastic!
When I miss the water bath method for cheesecake, it forms little crust on the outside but never had cracks. But I totally agree that it helps even baking. Your friends would be very happy to receive homemade chocolate cookies from you.
I love a good baked cheesecake and this one really looks and sounds delicious. I cannot imagine baking for 75 people, that must have cost a fortune, how very generous of you. I’ll pop over to Carrie’s to check out the recipe. I love your tips for the cheesecake, mine are always cracked after they bake.
The cookies look and sound delicious:) Sea Salt makes them extra delicious in my book. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day, Lizzy!
Oh, wow… everything in the recipe title is a winner! Lucky you!
How piggish of me would it be to ask for a slice of that cake AND a cookie?
Okay.. you did it… I tried to stop myself… but I did it… I couldn’t help it… I DROOLED! That cheesecake looks beyond amazing… how I wish I could have a slice of it.
Then you tempted me with cookies… you are really teasing me today. 
You are the sweetest lady around… Happy Valentine’s Day!! 
Your cheesecake looks like pure chocolate heaven!
What a beautiful, decadent cheescake, Liz!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!! xox
I’m a sucker for the salty & sweet mix so these cookies are right up my alley and the cheesecake looks sooooooooooooooo good! Happy Valentine’s Day Liz!
I’m glad you enjoyed the cookies and other goodies, Liz. The cheesecake looks wonderful! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Wow, you did score with your box of goodies from Betsy. Hopefully the three of you are wearing your garlands during dinner tonight. What could be better. Isn’t it fun, Liz, to receive cookies for a change? You seem to be always baking for others. It’s nice that on Valentines, someone baked for you. Enjoy.
What a fun post! I love how you described the smell of chocolate – I’d swear I could smell it, too!
Your cheesecake is lovely. I’ll be making a lemon one for my mom’s birthday next weekend.
Happy Valentine’s Day! xoxo
Chocolate lovers dream of a cheesecake!
Love the cheesecake – I made chocolate Valentines cheesecake too. Your cookies sound scrumptious, and the heart napkins are just adawbs!
Cheesecake AND cookies. Oh my!
I am enjoying seeing all the exchange roundups – I love the FFwD crew. They are so awesome.
Ooooh…both the cookies and the cheesecake look wonderful….sounds like Valentine’s Day in your house was a sweet one!!
OMG! The cake, the cookies… Next Valentine’s Day, I’m vacationing at your house!
Ooooh, we get double the goodness in this post. Your cheesecake looks divine and these cookies…well, let’s just say I would have no problem demolishing the entire batch *wipes crumbs off mouth guiltily*
Cake and cookies! You are too much. I love it. I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Chocolate cheesecake is my #1 dessert choice and your Liz looks amazing! And the cookies, I want some of those too!
Thanks for sharing Liz and thank you for participating to this month chocolate party