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When is a cookie not a cookie? When it is a cake. What the heck does that mean? Out of your greatest failures, success is found. I stopped my writing of this post, at this exact moment, to google the concept. I found this link to a Forbes article on famous quotes on failure. The very first quote in the list of 30 quotes is “Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be” by John Wooden – the famous UCLA basketball coach.
Pretty profound stuff. The concept is very relevant to this post, and to my life. It is OK to be wrong but more importantly, to admit and act to change it. We cannot learn, can not grow as a person, without making mistakes.
And for these cookies. I set out to make a cookie with a chocolate chip center and a chocolate cookie exterior. I had completed the chocolate chip cookie and put it in the fridge to set. I thought the dough for this chocolate cookie was a little runny. After consulting with my wife, the real baking expert in this house, we decided to put the dough in the fridge to tighten up a little. When, I went back to the fridge to pull out the chocolate cookie dough, it was rock solid. Change of plans, I made chocolate chip cookies.
I stored the cookie dough in my mix master bowl in the fridge and I needed the bowl for another use. So I went to throw out the chocolate cookie dough. I do not know what possessed me but I tried to salvage the dough. So I started by microwaving the dough for short periods of time. Eventually, the dough softened to an interesting and malleable consistency. With the softened but sturdy dough, I transferred it to a baking pan. I put it in the oven, said a prayer, and waited for it to come out to see the result. Since, I am writing this post, and sharing the recipe, you know it worked really well. Amazing! A miracle! Now, I am sharing the recipe and the methodology but I am not sure that I could repeat it again. I do not know the science of what resulted but it was really and had great texture.
- 1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) Dark Chocolate chips
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup confectioner sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons milk
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Melt chocolate morsels in a double boiler. Set aside.
- Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into medium bowl.
- Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy.
- Add melted chocolate and mix well.
- Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well blended, about 1 minute.
- Add flour mixture in 2 to 3 batches. Mix until just blended.
- Place batter in fridge for 60 minutes to overnight. (This is the mistake that changed this cookie recipe).
- Mixture should be really hard. If not, put it back in the fridge until it becomes stiff.
- Place bowl in a microwave and reheat in short intervals until the dough becomes malleable.
- Pour into a cake tin (I used a tinfoil pan).
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Bake for 25 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.
- In a bowl combine the confectioner sugar, milk and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Finish by pouring glaze over the cookie cake. (Be as generous as you like)
- Serve and enjoy!
Wet and Dry all mixed.
Poured into Baking Tin.
Post-Bake.
Out of Tin.
Plated.
Manila Spoon
Coming from the FBC group and just had to stop to say that this cake looks totally amazing! Pinned!
Peter Block
Thx for the support Abigail.
Jessica (Savory Experiments)
You had me at CHOCOLATE!!!! This looks AH-mazing!
Peter Block
That line never gets old Jessica.
Debi @ Life Currents
This looks so yummy! Wait, let me wipe the drool off my computer! Can’t wait to make this!
Peter Block
You must have a messy computer! LOL.
Becky
Man…I so wish that I baked so I could make this!! Sometimes what you think is a fail turns into a big win!! Do you ship?
Peter Block
I can ship for a price Becky! 🙂
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist
This looks absolutely wonderful. I am happy to see you failed in the cookies to bring us this wonderful cake.
Peter Block
Glad I didn’t waste the whole batter.
Nettie Moore
Looks like a dream to me, OMG YUM! Nettie
Peter Block
Thx Nettie.
Shauna Smart
That cake looks divine! Anything looks great covered in glaze. Right??
Peter Block
I totally agree with you Shauna. You might say the glaze is “topping on the cake”. LOL
Linda (Meal Planning Maven)
Well no matter what the original intentions for this dessert were, you have created a chocoholic’s dream!
Peter Block
And I fall into that category!
Colleen, The Smart Cookie Cook
WOW that looks incredible! Right up my alley. Cookie, or cake – I don’t care. I just want some of it.
Peter Block
It is truly up your alley Colleen.
Trevor aka The Burger Nerd
I agree with everyone, very nice recovery! I love when things like that happen.
The cookie-cake (maybe you should call it a cakie) looks awesome and visually almost reminds me of a brownie type of creation.
Well done on picking up the bad snap fumble and running it in for a touchdown. Happy New Year!
Peter Block
Trevor, I like the football analogy.
KC the Kitchen Chopper
Since I don’t bake, I may just eat it raw! 😉
Peter Block
That could work too!
Lovefoodies
This looks delicious and perfect with a cup of tea!
Peter Block
You must be British? 🙂
Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
I wouldn’t mind a slice of that salvaged cake! It looks amazing!
Peter Block
Thx Serena. Praise indeed coming from such an accomplished baker as you.
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner
I love when baking “mistakes” have a happy ending. 🙂
Peter Block
It does not happy very often because the rules of baking are so precise.
Cindy @ Hun What's for Dinner?
Well I have to say that this is a delicious looking mistake!
Peter Block
Thx Cindy.
Becca from It's Yummi!
Now THAT’S an awesome recovery, Peter! This looks fantastic!
Peter Block
Thx Beeca. Pulled the old proverbial rabbit out of a hat.
Deena
I love it when that happens, my Dad’s best cake was serendipity like this. Your dish isn’t the same recipe, but it looks very similar to the English “school dinners” classic we all know and love – Chocolate Concrete.
Peter Block
Deena, glad to hear your memory. I am going to look up Chocolate Concrete and see what that is.
Sippitysup
Christmas Miracle?? GREG
Peter Block
Greg, I think so!
Janette@culinaryginger
Wow, you’d never know what it was supposed to be. Great recovery and it’s pretty too.
Peter Block
I am not sure what I was supposed to be creating any more.