It’s Sweet Tooth Friday time again! My absolutely favorite time of the week. Because I love baking and I love sharing.
One of my most favorite things, ever, is spicy chocolate. Sometimes called Mexican chocolate. It has a dash of cinnamon and a hint of pepper. Not enough to light your mouth on fire, but just a touch to give you some kick. I know, I know, it sounds kind of weird. But it’s not. Or at least it’s weirdly awesome.
A couple of weeks ago a friend was telling me how she once tried some Mexican cookies and they were terrible. Her mouth literally caught on fire after one bit. Okay, that didn’t actually happen. But she said that’s what it felt like. How could you do that to a cookie? Sweet goodness that it is. So of course I set out to find a spicy sweet cookie that was a million times better.
And I did. And she loved them. And so do I. Dare I say this is my new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe?
There is a secret behind these cookies. And no, it’s not the spice, that just makes them super-duper special. It’s making the dough and letting it sit for at least 8 hours in the fridge. These cookies really need a chance for the flavors to get to know each other, have a couple of dates and then decide to go all the way. You know, just like everything in life.
So you have to make this dough ahead of time. Let it chill and do it’s thing. And there will be magic. Oh yes, there will be magic.
Spicy Chocolate Chip Cookies {a.k.a. Mexican Chocolate Icebox Cookies}
Adapted from Chow.com
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or finely chopped dark chocolate
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, cayenne, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
Mix the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add milk and vanilla, blend well. Add egg and mix well. On low speed add flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips or chopped chocolate.
Turn dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, shape it into a log about 12 inches long and 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap tight. {You can totally skip forming it into a log. Just place covered cookie dough in the fridge and form into balls later.} Place in the refrigerator until firm, at least 1 hour but preferably 8 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°F and arrange rack in the middle. Remove cookie dough from the refrigerator and form into 1/2″ to 1″ sized balls. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake until golden brown on the bottom, about 12-14 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack and drink with a giant glass of milk. As all good cookies should be consumed with.
Ready to link up with Sweet Tooth Friday? I only have a few rules:
- Link directly to your post, not to the main page of your blog.
- Link back to my blog an/or include the Sweet Tooth Friday button.
- Visit a few of the other blogs. Spread the sweet-love!
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Huh. I’ve never had spicy chocolate! I’m bookmarking this to try this recipe!!
I hope you do!
P.S. The linky is up now, if you wanted to link up your pudding recipe.
Hi Alli! Thanks for inviting me to share my Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookie recipe! I also posted a new recipe on my blog for Raspberry Curd- both are intense flavored and incredible!
Thanks for hosting!
Thanks for linking up! Your new recipe sounds wonderful.
Am a new follower to ur site and I just loved it
Yum, I’m always looking for ways to spice things up. These sound like a great addition to chocolate chip cookies.
Thanks for hosting, I brought some chocolate cherry cookies to the party.
-Brenda
Mmmm, cookies are always welcome at my party!
These look delicious and this is something new to me. I can’t wait to try the recipe!
The cookies look great, thanks!
Hi Allison and thank you for popping in to see me and I’ve just linked up with your Sweet Tooth Friday.
Be a sweetie and I hope you’ll come back for another visit sometimes.
be a sweetie,
shelia
Thanks for linking up. I hope you’ll stop by again this week.
Okay these look so stinking delicious that I can’t even thing about Wordful Wednesday. And, now, I might be using my “vacation” to go to the store, buy cayenne pepper, and bake cookies!
So, did you make them? I totally wouldn’t feel bad if you used your vacation for that either.
Recipe posts always make me hungry and wish I had someone else to cook for me. Like, say, you.
I’m so lazy.
If you make it to Bloggy Boot Camp maybe I’ll bring some goodies with me!
Thanks for letting me know about your Sweet Tooth Friday link up!!! Your spicy choc. cookies sound yummy!
LOVE Mexican chocolate! I will definitely be making these. I also linked up ~
Thanks so much for sharing!
Pat
Thanks for the comment @16balls! and the invite ot link up – cannot wait to convert these cookies into a GF masterpiece! I *sometimes* add cayenne to the hot chocolate – they never even know…
Blessings!
Hey Ali, thanks a ton for inviting me to this treat . I liked my white chocolate cake .. but i can’t see it now .. not sure what happened
yeah yeah now i see it
I’m glad it showed up. Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you again next week.
Spicy + chocolate = LUST! Can’t wait to try these.
I hope you do. Stop by and let me know how they turn out.
OOO, I love this meme. I just this minute found out about it and I make SWEETS
)
ALL THE TIME..;))
I am making these cookies for my home fellowship group on Sunday night. Are they HOT??
I’ll come back next week to link with you.
I am also linking up to follow..so you gotta come over to see me.
xo bj
Yea, I can’t wait for you to link up!
The cookies aren’t HOT, they just have a little kick to them. I don’t think it would bother even the most sensitive person. Let me know how they go.
Those cookies look divine, my husband would love them! I always let my cookie dough chill for at least 8 hours too, I find it makes for a much chewier cookie (something about relaxing the gluten I think)
I linked up my Vanilla Cake Pops, Vanilla Buttermilk Waffles, and Banana Whoopie Pies.
Thanks for sharing all of your yummy recipes. I hope to see you again this week.
Thank you for visiting my blog today Alli and inviting me to your link-up! I linked up my perfect party cake but it’s not showing yet…..I guess it takes a few minutes? I’ll keep checking! I’ve never had Mexican chocolate before, I’d love to try it. Your cookies look delicious! Thanks for hosting.
Yes, I believe it does take a few minutes to show up. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Hi! I tried to link up twice, but I don’t see it. Maybe it takes some time?
Please delete one if they both appear in a few minutes.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
e-Mom @ Susannah’s {Kitchen}
P.S. If neither appear, here’s the link, thanks: http://www.susannahskitchen.com/2011/02/how-to-bake-authentic-red-velvet-cake.html
Yes, it does take a few minutes. I’ve had a lot of questions about that, I may need to switch to a different linky system.
Thanks for the invite dear. Have linked mine for this party. Happy hosting!
I just love the way your cookies look like – so thick and full of chocolate! Mine I usually quite flat, so I’ll try chilling the dough, too, and the addition of spices must be truly heavenly
Thank you for inspiration and I’ll definitely try out these cookies 
Another hint to keep the cookies from flattening is to make sure that the butter is not too soft. It shouldn’t be melted at all. I try to leave my butter sitting on the counter for a few hours, or even over night, to get the best consistency.
Sorry, I’m a little late! Looks like some delicious sweets here!
Thanks for your visit! I see you are a Wisconsin blogger too!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll join in again this week.
Hi! Sorry it took me so long to link up but thanks for the invite to do so. I will remember to visit on Fridays and join when I can. The cookies look awesome!
Only just saw this post – thankyou! I just found the perfect recipe to make for my BFF’s husband’s birthday next month!
oh..yum…and this looks like fun! I can’t figure out where to link up though! duh..I’m sure it’s just me. If I can’t find it, I’ll try again next friday. thanks for inviting me!
These look so delicious! I JUST popped the dough into the fridge, and I’m so excited to begin baking them tomorrow! I also dumped a little extra pepper in there… I love spicy!
I can’t wait to eat these. Thanks for posting!
By the way, I make snickerdoodles at home, and when I try to make them larger (and squish them a little), they sometimes burn on the outside. I’ve tried making them flatter and lowering the oven temperature. Do you know how I can make giant cookies (bigger diameters) without burning cookies?
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