Sorry for being withdrawn and uninspired, visitors and fellow food bloggers. Life felt overwhelming these last few weeks. Not all of it bad. The world and US national news definitely felt overwhelming, and still feels overwhelming, but my personal life has been relatively good.
Ben and I have been adjusting to the new permanent resident status. It’s been good. But I just have not felt like posting or even looking at food, and for that I apologize. I know that you all have been making some great stuff, and for fellow food bloggers I’m eager to get back to visiting and seeing what you’ve been up to.
And so these are Peace Cookies. Why not? I could’ve settled for some long name, like Cardamom, White Chocolate Chip, Coconut Cream, Rum, Pecan, and Macadamia Nut Cookies. Hmmm. Or just keep it simple. Peace Cookies. Why not, right?
Of course, because everything’s already been done, I did do an internet search and found that “World Peace Cookies” already exists. I hope Dorie Greenspan and Pierre Hermé don’t mind. These are not based on that recipe. I think those are sablé, which are French butter cookies. Which look really good and I’ll have to try making those someday too! These are coconut oil-based, with all the ingredients that make me happy and peaceful.
Truth be told, I’ve been wanting to make something to post here with a name that inspires. Also with a name that bridges the disconnect between the real world and this fantasy baking world I’ve created. The long ingredient content-based name was just an excuse to rename it ‘Peace Cookies’. I feel that food should do more than just nourish or be appetizing. Creating something to eat while with the best of intentions for the world can help process and heal from the suffering and injustices in the world that we hear about in the news. And to be grateful for what we have. Even if it’s just a dang cookie recipe! We can start with small things that inspire us to do and be more! So I hope you are motivated to give this recipe a try, or to inspire you to find your own Peace recipe. 🙂
I initially tinkered with a cake recipe to make bars last week that were similar, but they turned out more like cake than I wanted, even though a few people at work said they really liked them. Also for the bar version, I didn’t cut the macadamia nuts at all, which made it difficult to cut bars into neat little squares, so here I decided to chop them into little pieces similar to the chopped pecans.
I also decided to go ahead and just make them cookies. I initially didn’t add cardamom, but since I had some already processed, I might as well use it before it got stale. I’m really glad I did because it goes very well with coconut flavor, I think. I’ve already had about 6 cookies with my morning coffee as I write this! I was going to make a frosting, but they are already plenty sweet. Really glad I added the full teaspoon of salt, because I feel it brings the nut flavor of the macadamia and pecans, and complements the sweet from the coco lopez and the white chocolate.
Peace Cookies (makes about 4 dozen tablespoon-sized cookies)
ingredients
2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
4 ounces coconut oil, in semi-solid state at room temp.
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoon coconut extract
1/3 cup sweetened coconut cream (such as coco lopez brand)
1 Tablespoon dark rum (such as Myers Rum)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
5 ounces white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts, chopped
method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Sift and whisk together in a bowl the flour, baking powder, baking soda salt, and cardamom. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream the coconut oil with the sugar until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, then the coconut extract, blending separately after each addition with a hand held mixer with beaters on.
In a small bowl, combine the cream of coconut with the rum and stir until incorporated.
Add about half the flour mixture to the creamed coconut oil/sugar mixture, followed by mixing, then adding the cream of coconut/rum mixture, then the second half of the flour mixture and mixing until combined. Add the white chocolate chips and nuts and fold into the dough until well integrated.
You can at this point cover with plastic and place in the refrigerator later or the next day, or you can scoop tablespoon-sized portions and space at least 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. I tried both baking right away versus letting them sit in the fridge, and the differences are minimal. The ones baked right away last night, all two of them, were quickly devoured. They were slightly flatter, but had almost the same texture and mouthfeel. The ones that rested were a little taller, and took slightly longer to bake. I baked the ones that sat overnight for about 12-15 minutes, at 350 degrees F., whereas the ones baked immediately after making the dough were baked for about 10 minutes, also at 350 degrees F.
Enjoy, and PEACE!
12 responses to “peace cookies”
I am with you here. Peace Cookies spread the love.
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These look VERY soft and chewy, which is typically how I love my cookies to be. Nice recipe/post/pictures. 🙂
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Thanks!! Yes, they are soft and a little chewy, although they do have some crunch from the nuts, and a little crisp on the sides that sadly gets lost as it cools. Oh well, I’m at peace with that! Have a great rest of your weekend. 😉
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Love the idea and story behind this cookie! And I have a soft spot for soft cookies! Glad that you’re back on your feet in the kitchen, sometimes taking a break from it all can only refuel you 🙂
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Thanks Cher! You are the second one to say that. I actually like crisp and crunchy, but they aren’t too thick and chewy, so it’s all good. Plus the cardamom flavor is so good.
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Oh yes cardamom, my roommate went through an Indian spice phase and would request cardamom in most of her drinks and desserts XD
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Ha! Mine started a few weeks ago with a cardamom pound cake!
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Yummm pound cakes sounds divine as well!
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I love the name! I feel like I can taste them just looking at your mouthwatering photos.
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Aw, thanks, Josette!
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Much love for sharing your peace cookies Dave. There is so many disturbing things going on in the world. I think everybody needs a peace cookie to cheer them up. Hugs:)
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Thanks for that, Lily. Peace and love can and will overcome. Hugs to you too!
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