Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Joyful Almond Cookies

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Wanna hear something super annoying? Mom has dubbed Saturday "chore day".

Yeah, I know. On Saturday I'm way too busy sitting around whining that I'm bored to do chores. I've been telling her since I was old enough to speak that doing chores just makes you MORE bored. She will never understand.

Anyways, she knows I hate when she gives me checklists to complete, so imagine how outraged I was when she handed me a chore list. I am supposed the privileged child who does whatever I please and asks for nothing in return. 

"Um. Um. Um. Excuse me. Why does this checklist have my name on it? Are you demoting me to the rank of the rest of the chore doing citizens of this establishment?"

"Sorry, Yammie." Mom sighed, "The house is really disgusting and you have to help."

"GAH. Clean the fridge??" I wailed upon viewing the list, "It will be a cold day in Zimbabwe before I clean out that fridge! You'll just have to have Piggie do it. Her job is cleaning the upstairs bathroom, but she obviously never does it cause the shower curtains smell like Taun Taun guts!"

"What is a Taun Taun?"


All along though, I fully intended to clean out the fridge. And I did do it. I'm just a big, whiny, baby that throws tantrums from time to time and who doesn't like being given direct written orders from the Commandress.

Maybe someday I'll grow up and stop being such a pain in the butt.

But that day is not this day.

Anyways, one good thing about that list was the "make cookies for the kids' cookie swap" part.

Now that I did not whine about.

And I hardly even ate any.

Helpful tip: taking a bite out of each cookie makes it seem like you are eating less. Just for future reference.

Anyways, I adapted the base of these totally mouthwatering mint creme oreo stuffed fudge cookies from Becky Bakes.Whoa Nel. I would have made those if I had had Oreos, but I can't keep those around the house for more than five seconds when Piggie is near. 

P.S. I was hoping I could get some of those Christmas Oreos with red centers to do it, but they aren't minty. Have you ever heard something so dumb in all your life? Me neither.

Anyways, since I was lacking in oreos, I decided to make them Almond Joy flavored instead. It's actually sort of like an inside out Almond Joy because the almond is in the middle and the coconut is on the outside. The reason being that it gives the coconut a chance to get toasted which is always a good thing. The result is a little flock of deliciously gooey, chocolately cookies with an almond surprise in the middle, that will look perfectly snowball-ish on your Christmas cookie tray.
Joyful Almond Cookies
Makes about 3 1/2 dozen (I think)
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
Sweetened flaked coconut (the more the merrier, but I used less a regular sized bag of it)

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. With a hand or stand mixer beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Mix well. Add flour mixture to mixer and mix until combined. Chill dough in the refrigerator for about an hour or in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Scoop cookie dough into balls. Press an almond into each cookie and then roll it in coconut. Bake at 375º for 9 minutes.

I know I always say this, but... GET EM WHILE THEIR HOT.
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