boozy cookies

Highs and Lows

~ stephzuniga ~ Leave a comment

I’ll start with the bad news.  I had my first (or maybe second) cookie fail this week.  I tried to re-make the Cornflake-Marshmallow-Chocolate Chip cookies from a few weeks ago and they did not turn out- at all.  They were too crunchy, too dry, too ick.  Wrong wrong wrong.  I should have known better.  

I really should have known better. These were not bueno. Muy bad. A cookie disaster.

I decided to make them again because I had leftover cornflake crunch.  What I didn’t realise is that I didn’t actually have enough leftover to make a whole second batch of cookies.  Also, I tried to make them smaller– but didn’t adjust the cooking time.  So, wound up with dry, hard and pretty below average cookies. 

People still ate them, people still complimented them, but in my heart of hearts, I know they’re a fail.  And I know it’s me, not the recipe.  But oh well, they can’t all be winners!  And sometimes the fails make you appreciate the wins!

And now for the HIGHS!

We’ve reached a new highpoint in our Cookie journey…

Y’all Jesse Szewczyak has entered the chat.  I will admit to not knowing who he was 6 weeks ago, but I stumbled on one of his cookie recipes a few weeks ago and almost immediately I ordered his cookbook.

He has not disappointed.  Last week I made his Bananas Foster Cookies and they were *chef’s kiss*.  So Good!  I know I say this every week, but they were seriously “the best cookies yet”.  They’re at least top 5.  And they’re straight out of his cookbook!   

  • One Excellent Cookie!

So based on that,  I decided to try two more cookies from his cookbook this week.

Initial opinions (mine especially!), I’ve picked two winners.  Or at least one winner and one “pretty close to a winner.”  We’ll see what the public says.

So the “pretty close to a winner” are Buttered Rum Sugar Cookies- very good, very solid. Very much aligned to my previous Boozy Cookie theme. Jesse actually has a whole chapter on Boozy Cookies in his book… no, I won’t be doing the Absinthe cookies.

The winning cookie though is – wait for it- Oatmeal Chocolate Covered Raisin Cookies.  These are the PERFECT cookie,  Oatmeal raisin isn’t my favourite HOWEVER these are basically Oatmeal Raisinet cookies.  And Raisinets are my favourite all time candy.   Like bring it back from the US with me but love it too much to eat it favourite candy.  Raisinets are the best.  Raisinets+cookies= perfection.  I was super excited as soon as  I saw the recipe.  My only dilemna was whether to use my precious precious American raisinets or to buy subpar Aussie chocolate covered sultanas (not as good!)  Of course, being slightly selfish I bought subpar Aussie ones– and then had to top them up with some American Raisinets.  It was worth it!  The cookies are amazing!  10/10- no notes!  

A big shout to Jesse Szewczyak- his cookbook is 3 from 3 so far!

A first time for everything

~ stephzuniga ~ Leave a comment

Firstly, apologies for the lateness of my post.  I only realised as I was looking for THIS week’s cookies that I hadn’t written about LAST week’s cookies yet!  So, here it goes, better late than never…

This week, I did something I’ve never done before…. Asked Chat GPT for a recipe.  I’m doing my best to embrace AI and live in the future- or at least the now, and so I thought I would spice up my week by using Chat GPT for this week’s cookies.  

I hear you asking, “why?”   Why, with a house full of cookbooks and an internet full of recipes, would I turn to ChatGPT??   For fun… and to continue my streak of boozy cookies.  Quite frankly, I (and several other people) are digging the boozy cookies vibe.   The alcohol adds something special to the cookies.  And with the current state of the world, most people I know need a little something special.  So- this week, I wanted to try making ANZAC biscuits again- I wasn’t happy with last week’s efforts so I wanted to try again.  So, I thought I would shake things up and add something special to them but I couldn’t find a recipe for boozy ANZAC biscuits- so I asked ChatGPT.  And it delivered!  Spiced Rum ANZAC biscuits are amazing— however, I was told later that it’s un-Australian to alter the ANZAC Biscuit recipe… not sure why, but that’s what I was told.  So, I’ll have to find another name for what I made- Maybe Drunken ANZAC cookies, or Rum Rebellion Cookies– not too sure yet but they’re not ANZAC biscuits.

I also made Mango, Coconut and Chilli Cookies.  I used Tajin seasoning so they weren’t really Chilli but they were delicious!  Also, from my Cookies & Crumbs cookbook. TBH mango is really good in cookies. This might warrant further exploration now that I have mango powder…

This week though, we’re doing the Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies from Cookies & Crumbs– very excited because so far this cookbook hasn’t disappointed! And we’re also doing Bourbon Dark Chocolate Crack Cookies.

More boozy cookies, and yes, I take requests now

~ stephzuniga ~ Leave a comment

I am not a gluten-free girlie, however I totally respect that some people are. So when a trainer at my gym asked if I could make gluten-free cookies, of course I said yes. It also gave me the opportunity to test out one of my new birthday cookbooks- Cookies & Crumbs. It did NOT disappoint!

The Runner said that these guys, the Triple Choc & Oat Gluten Free Cookies were the best he’s ever had. And The Kid ate one and didn’t complain at all, so I think they’re a hit!

I also made Spiced Rum Snickerdoodles – again Alcohol+Cookies=Vibe! Also, all the cinnamon in the snickerdoodles made the house smell amazing- 10/10

A big shout out as well to the other two cookbooks I got for my birthday- Cooking in Real Life, the Champagne Chicken was AMAZING and a great excuse to open a bottle of champagne on a Sunday! And Jamie Oliver’s Easy Airfryer Cookbook– the brussel sprouts AND roast potatoes were next level! LOVED!

Another week, another boozy cookie…

~ stephzuniga ~ Leave a comment

I’m not sure how I’ve gotten into the alcoholic cookie phase of baking but here we are yet again. I wanted to make these Tennesse Whiskey and Chocolate Chip cookies but we only had fancy whiskey in our liquor cabinet… and well, I didn’t want to risk the wrath of The Runner by using one of his good bottles or Scotch or Whiskey or whatever in a batch of cookies.

Any of you want to be in a cookie???

So I’ll save the Tennesee Whiskey cookies for next week- I’ll have to buy a tiny airplane sized bottle of Jack Daniel’s and hope that no one sees me. Not that there’s shame in drinking Jack Daniel’s but I do wonder who buys those tiny little bottles- and why? Anyway, that’s next week’s problem.

Next week’s other problem, what kind of cookies will I make for MY VERY OWN BIRTHDAY???? There are so many yummy ones I’ve made that I legitimately can’t choose! Maybe the Mexican Hot Chocolate ones?? Maybe the Van Stapele ones that kicked off this whole cookie madness??? Who knows!

This week, I made Kahlua Tia Maria Chocolate Chip Cookies. We didn’t have Kahlua so I improvised and they’re not so bad. I mean, last week’s Malibu Oatmeal Cookies were some of the best I’ve ever made. The Bailey’s Chocolate Chip ones were pretty good too…I think I’m onto something with my boozy cookie phase… I just need some more ideas for recipes!!!