cookies: the new classics

For the first time this week, I really struggled with what to bake. I knew I was going to bake this week, because, well, of course I was but I struggled with inspiration. Jinx had sent me a recipe from EasyGayOven which looked great on Instagram but sadly the recipe itself wasn’t online. Well, it was but for a fee. I love cookbooks but I’M NOT A FAN of paying for yet another subscription that I’ll use once and then forget all about! I tried searching for similar recipes but nothing was quite right– I looked at quite a few- it came down to this one for Coconut Chocolate Chip Mango Cookies and this one for Macadamia, Mango, and White Chocolate Cookies. So I improvised…. I used this recipe(-ish) for Macadamia, Mango, and White Chocolate cookies– but not exactly since I took out the macadamias and added more mango– actually dried mango and freeze-dried mango. I’m honestly not sure how they’ve turned out. I don’t love white chocolate and I tinkered around with the recipe a bit, so not sure it’s my best work. I’m wary of putting nuts in cookies- firstly, I hate nuts, and secondly, I don’t want to accidentally kill anyone who has a nut allergy. I think I’m just hypervigilant after being a parent for 8 years and hearing NO NUTS at all times. So, I try to avoid them in cookies…

I was also going to make Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies from the NY Times. But…. I panicked. I re-read the recipe and realised they were gluten free and dairy free and wasn’t sure I wanted to go down the route of two controversial cookies this week. Gluten free and dairy free isn’t for everyone, and who knows what these bootleg mango cookies will be like….

So I played it safe- I went with Mocha Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Cookies: The New Classics by Jesse Szewczyk. I’ve never done these cookies before but his recipes are always winners. So I thought they would be safe!

But it was a bit alarming. It’s my first cookie-related doubt/lack of inspiration. Normally I’m super excited to bake each week and it feels like a labour of love. This week, it just felt hard. I’m hoping it doesn’t show in the cookies, but these were more of a struggle than usual.

What I REALLY want to do is crack the recipe for Milkman’s OG Cookies. We had them in Gold Coast Airport last week on the way home and they’re good!!! But they’re different- thicker and slightly cakier??? than most cookies… I might need to order some and experiment to get them right!!

In the meantime, send inspirational cookie vibes…. and maybe some ideas for next week!

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!