Here’s the “secret family 🍪 recipe” that’s been passed down to me by my grandmother. Grandma was notoriously secretive about her recipe, but after much persuasion (and a few glasses of red wine), she finally gave in and handed down her treasured recipe. These butter cookies are buttery, crumbly, and simply melt in your mouth.
As a kid, I remember spending countless afternoons in my grandmother’s kitchen, and it was always a special treat to have a warm cookie straight from the oven.
Now, I’m excited to share her recipe with you.
Psssst. Grandma’s secret ingredient is finely chopped white chocolate, which gives them a rich, indulgent flavor.
So let’s get baking and enjoy these delicious butter cookies – just be sure to keep the recipe a secret, or my grandma might come after me!
🌱 For a vegan version, you can replace butter and white chocolate with vegan alternatives.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter (at room temperature)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup finely chopped white chocolate (Grandma’s secret ingredient)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 320°F (160°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Divide the dough into two equal halves. Add the 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and chopped white chocolate to one half of the dough and knead it until everything forms a smooth mixture.
- Wrap both dough halves in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for one hour.
- Shape separate dough rolls with a diameter of about 1 cm and place them closely together, one dark roll and one light roll side by side.
- Now, using a sharp knife, cut off a piece of the juxtaposed rolls, about 2 to 3 cm in size, and loosely twist the black and white dough piece around each other, so that the light piece wraps around the dark (or vice versa).
- Shape the dough pieces into small balls (about 1 tablespoon each) and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between them.
- Flatten each ball slightly with a fork.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Keen-eyed readers may notice a delightful difference: Just like every great romance, Blanchie’s cookie recipe had a few embellishments along the way to make it fit perfectly into the story. As you whip up these real-world versions, remember that it’s your unique touch that makes them truly special, and don’t be surprised if the cookies in your kitchen turn out even more enchanting than the ones on the pages!
Happy baking!
The Merlot Baroness, reigning supreme on her cherished couch.
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