Brownie Cookies!
January 18th, 2010 at 10:47
Okay, so I’m having a complete blast trying out recipes from my new cookbook, Veganomicon. My first try from the book was the “Chewy Chocolate-Raspberry Cookies” recipe. I call them brownie cookies, for good reason … ’cause they taste like brownies!
I made three modifications to the recipe, which ended up leading to a fourth modification. The recipe calls for raspberry preserves, which we don’t have. So I substituted strawberry. I have a feeling the cookies would have turned out more rich, with the raspberry. As it is, you really don’t notice the strawberry.
I also didn’t have almond extract, so that didn’t go in. I’m not big on almonds, but I do like the overall flavor, so I think I may pick some up the next time I go to the co-op. The next batch will have it for sure.
My third modification was subbing agave syrup for half of the sugar. This turned out well, as far as sweetness went. However, it meant that my cookie dough was much more wet, leading to the fourth modification: using a lot more flour. I added in whole wheat flour in small increments until I felt like the dough was about right, and then floured my hands while rolling the balls of dough.
These cookies are simple enough (and inoffensive enough) to bring to people’s houses just because, or for a company potluck. And let me tell you, I’m going to have a lot of fun cooking things and sharing them with the unsuspecting. This isn’t to force vegan food on them, but to show, hey, we can make totally awesome food, too! And there’s nothing weird or abnormal (or unhealthy, for the most part) about it!
My first experiment was on my co-workers, and I made these Skinny Figgy Bars, from FatFree Vegan. They were a huge hit, and later that afternoon I visited with Ty’s cousin and her little girls, and they devoured most of what was left of the bars. Ty even tried one eventually, stating that it wasn’t “too bad.” This is progress!