Baking Cookies: Ebony & Ivory

Ebony: Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

The school holidays are here again. As a treat to the little ones at home, I baked some cookies to keep their sweet tooth satiated. Nothing works better than classic chocolate chip cookies. I baked 2 types using new recipes and nick-named them Ebony (Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies) & Ivory (Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies). The former was soft and chewy, and the Peanut Butter chips very, very addictive. The latter was one of the more successful crispy-type CC cookies recipe that I have tried, mainly due to the amount of shortening used (I think). However, you should note the shortening is basically flavourless so that the end results are less fragrant than one that uses all butter. I would suggest increasing the butter:shortening ratio (through test & trial) or increasing the amount of vanilla essence (or use premium quality vanilla paste) to give the cookies more fragrance and flavour.

Recipe for Ebony (Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies) based on Cookie Madness recipe.
1/2c butter softened
3/4c sugar
1 large egg
1t vanilla
2c plain flour
1/3c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 + 1/8t baking soda
1/4t salt
1 generous cup (or more) of Reese's Peanut Butter Chips (optional: mix with chocolate chips)

Cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt and add to creamed mixture. Add in in peanut butter chips. Chill for about 30 minutes and drop by tablespoonfuls onto silpat or baking sheet lined with non-stick paper. Bake at 175 celsius degrees (pre-heated) for 8-10 minutes. Cool on sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring them to wire rack to cool completely. Store in air-tight container.


Ivory (Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies) based on recipe from The Canadian Baker
1/4 c softened butter + 1/4c shortening
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 /2 T vanilla
1c plain flour
1/2t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1 c semisweet chocolate chips
(optional: 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans)

1) Cream butter with shortening and slowly add in sugars. Cream until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
2) Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Add into (1). Mix till just combined. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
3) Chill for about 30 minutes and drop by tablespoonfuls onto silpat or baking sheet lined with non-stick paper. Leave some space in between cookie doughs (it will spread) and lightly flatten with fork.
4) Bake at 190 celsius degrees (pre-heated) for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are golden but center still looks slightly underbaked.
5) Cool on sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to wire rack to cool completely. Store in air-tight container.

Wonderfully Martha's (Marble Buttermilk Pound Cake)

Having recently (and finally) acquired Martha Stewart's The Baking Handbook, I wasted no time in putting it to good use.

By default, I had actually used a recipe from this book before but that was when I loaned it from another blogger's website. This cake looked so wonderful in the book, simplicity at its best.


I daresay mine was not too bad compared to the original either. The only problem I had was that there were bits where it was slightly underbaked, probably due to my oven's (unreliable) temperature. Anyone knows where I can get a good oven thermometer? About time I get one and lay my suspicions to rest.

Speaking of her chocolate chip cookies (as mentioned above), another variation that I have tried is to turn them into Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies. Just add strong coffee powder to the mix and lessen the vanilla. In addition, I froze the dough by rolling them into a log with cling wrap and keeping them in a cylinder tube. When you want to bake them, just slice and bake. The ones below were baked for a friend. I tried one piece and it tasted yummy with the addition of coffee powder although it was more crispy than chewy this time (probably because I baked them longer this time). I hope my friend thought so too.

So what are you baking for CNY? Part II

In continuation of my previous post, I found time to bake more CNY cookies before CNY comes around. Not that I really need to bake as there are already tons of different CNY cookies at home. But somehow, it seems more befitting that I bake some CNY cookies for my family.

Here are 2 more new recipes that I tried this year, courtesy of Yochana.

Satay Fish Cookies (FAVOURITE RECIPE)
Crispy, crunchy and slightly savoury. I just found a new favourite!

Note: I added at least 20g extra satay fish (the crispy type). Too lazy to roll them out so just rolled them into balls. Easy!


Seaweed Cookies

I made a mistake with this recipe. I halved the recipe but forgot to half the icing sugar required. As a result, my dough was too dry and tough to pipe out. So I rolled them out and cut them using a cookie cutter. Not bad, a very crispy and crunchy type of seaweed-flavoured butter cookie.

Hmm..., I wonder if I got time to bake some more?

Note: The above recipes can be found on Yochana's blog. Link provided above and side bar.

So what are you baking for CNY?

Lately, I have been receiving a few enquiries from friends who knew of my interest in baking. They asked me, "So what are you baking for Chinese New Year?" I felt ashamed in replying, "So far, nothing." With CNY about a week more to go, time is running out for me particularly when I have been too ambitious in preparing my "CNY To-Bake List". I think I had at least 6 different types of cookies that I planned to bake. But like I said earlier, with CNY about a week more to go, I think I need to be more realistic and trim the list down to maybe 4 selections. Or perhaps 3. Hmm...., or maybe just 2.

But at least, I already baked my 1st batch of CNY cookies. Ta-da....., Green Peas Cookies (not green bean or mung beans).

A friend introduced me to these cookies last year which I enjoyed very much. Then later, I found a stall in a shopping mall that sells very good green peas cookies - the melting type. Sadly, they no longer sell them. Recently, I found a recipe for these cookies and to my delight, the recipe looked so simple to make (and they really are!). This version results in a very crunchy cookie, particularly since I did not blend the green peas too well, rather roughly grounding them into coarse bits.

Using a good oil is important (such as sunflower, canola or soya that does not have a strong scent), otherwise the cookies will stink of oil (I can't stand the smell of blended cooking oil such as Knife or Neptune. I also added some vanilla essence, just in case.

May have to bake another batch since I almost finished the first batch by myself *grins*. Well, at least 1 down and another 1 or 2 more to go...

Link to recipe.

Rejoice! It is Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone! A day late, but hey, it is still Christmas!

The days leading to Christmas were so busy. Tons of last minute shoppings and bakings, in addition to the usual parties and events as well as church practices. Nonetheless, these are part of the fun of Christmas, my favourite time of the year...

So what did I bake for Christmas? Take a look below:

Chocolate Banana Cake (based on wonderful recipe from SeaDragon with slight changes.)


Vanilla Sugar Cookies (recipe taken from epicurous.com)


More Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe from Williams-Sonoma). Supposed to be crispy, but mine still turned out chewy (???).


Mini Vanilla Butter Cupcakes for the children carollers!


Triple Layered Chocolate Oreos Cake for brother's birthday. (truly yummilicious, thanks to Fatboy for recipe. I use my own recipe for chocolate sponge and chocolate ganache.) - (FAVOURITE RECIPE)


Tiramisu (laddened with alcohol, the flavour gets better the longer it sits in the fridge (i.e., days not weeks or months, mind you). I had a slice 3 days after making it, and I couldn't stop at 1 slice. Recipe taken from Kitchen Capers - see sidebar for link). - (FAVOURITE RECIPE)


Once again, have yourself a blessed Christmas and a fantastic New Year!

"Celebrate in the Wonders of His birth, Rejoice in the Beauty of Christmas!"

Martha's Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Another recipe to try for the undisputed most popular cookie among the young ones in my family - the Chocolate Chip Cookie. I was taken by the rave review that I read here that I thought that I must simply try out this recipe, and so I did.


Recipe from Martha Stewart. Click the link above if you want the recipe.

These cookies turned out chewy and soft with a slight crispy edge. Although the kids polished them off at no time, they commented the cookies were a little too soft. Almost cake like. Then again, my cookies were considered "underbake" according to the recipe. It is impossible to bake them for 18 minutes in my oven even at reduced temperature without burning them. I have learned this too many times.

Anyhow, soft or not, they are still pretty darn good. Well, anything that has chocolate in it has got to be good, right?

For another favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe of mine, click here.

Bitten by the 'L" Bug (Coffee Liquor Chiffon Cake, Chewy Chunky Choc Cookies, Multigrain Raisin Bread)

Yup, I have been bitten by the "L" bug; "Lazy" bug, that is. Haven't had much motivation to bake recently and partly due to that for the past few weekends, I have been attending birthday celebrations, pre-wedding gatherings, hen parties as well as wedding dinners. "Phew", September and November are such "hot" periods to get hitched.

So for the past couple of weeks, these are the only things that came out from my oven...

Coffee Liquor Chiffon Cake based on this recipe. I tweaked it a bit to use whatever ingredients I happened to have in my pantry. But anyhow, I used 5 whole eggs and as for the coffee liquor, I used Amarula instead of Kahlua. I wasn't overly satisfied with the outcome of the cake. Probably due to my substitution (i.e., quantity of eggs used), the chiffon cake was not as high as I would have like. Also, it was slightly "holey". Taste-wise, it was pretty alright. Coffee with subtle taste of the Amarula, it is more suited for adult tastebuds though.


One of my nephews, Clement had been bugging me to bake him some chocolate chip cookies. What my nephew wants, my nephew gets (ceh...). I used my current favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe. It's chewy instead of crispy. Using chocolate chunks means that you will get melted chocolate puddles when you bite into the cookie. Like this......


After all the coffee, Amarula and chocolate, I must make something healthy, right? So out came this healthy Multigrain Raisin Wholemeal Bread. I bought the pre-mixed multigrain/seeds packet from Aunt Catherine (Best23) and followed the attached recipe. Only thing that I added some molasses sugar and threw in some raisins. Yum....

Another Cookie, Another Rave (PB Filled Chocolate Cookie & Orange Choc Chip Madeleine)

I seems to be having luck when trying new cookies recipes recently. Almost all were really good! And I am not saying it just because I baked them... (ahem...)

Anyway, here's the latest recipe that I tried,
Chocolate Cookies with Peanut Butter center. ~ (FAVOURITE RECIPE)
Chocolate? - Checked!
Peanut Butter? - Checked!
Cookie Ecstasy? - Checked!!!

Based on this recipe. (Sugar reduced . Also, used Van Houten Cocoa Powder. Anyone knows where to get 'Dutch-processed Cocoa Powder' in KL?)

In addition, the kids have been requesting me to bake some madeleines. They like the previous batch that I baked for them. To try a new flavour, I substituted vanilla with orange oil and added chocolate chips. Funnily, these were less popular than the plain vanilla ones. I guess they are less of a fan of orange than vanilla. Oh well, at least I don't have to fight with the kids for these madeleines. *grin*


By the way, in the interest of 'good photography', the first picture was taken outdoor to catch the last of natural sunlight before dusk sets in. When my mom saw me, she said alarmingly, "What are you doing crouching on the lawn?" And typical of her, she added, "The neighbours would think that I raised a mad daughter..." Maybe a little mad, but also talented - yes?

Sweet & Savoury (Cocoa Cappuccino Cookies & Savoury Egg Sponge Cake)

Cocoa Cappuccino Cookies (Recipe link)
Another cookie recipe worth trying, another batch of successful cookies worth to forgo any diet (heh,heh). Brownie-like cookies, it has a slightly crusty shell and soft chewy center. Coffee always provide a good contrast to chocolate. Using a good coffee powder makes it even better. You can reduce sugar slightly since it is rolled in sugar, but not too much otherwise the coffee powder may make it bitter.
Note: 1/2 recipe yielded about 20 cookies for me.


Savoury Egg Sponge Cake (aka Kai Tan Kou) layered with chicken floss and crispy fried shallots
I first fell in love with this cake ages ago at my girl friend's house. Her mom made this cake and I nearly gobbled up the entire cake. Imagine my delight when I saw a similar recipe at SeaDragon's blog (see side bar for link).
Result was nearly as good, except that my cake was slightly soggy at the bottom. Two possible reasons for this. First, instead of a stainless steel steamer tin, I used a normal cake tin lined with greaseproof paper; and/or I left the cake in the pan for a good 8-10 minutes before remembering to remove it.I was busy with something else!)
Anyway like previously, I nearly gobbled up the entire cake!

3 of My Best! (Flourless Peanut Butter, Choc Chunk Cookies & Donna Hay's Cupcakes)

Recently discovered 2 really good cookie recipes. In fact, these recipes are 2 of the best batches of cookies I have baked so far.

Top of the list is the Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies. Recipe is from Baking Sheet (see side bar for link to this blog). No flour was used here, this is a ‘pure-bred’ Peanut Butter cookie (hehe) . The cookie was simply held together by the egg(s) used. Crumbly but yet, melts in your mouth.


Next, we have the Chewy Chocolate Chunk cookies (FAVOURITE RECIPE) made famous by ‘the baker’. This is easily my favourite chocolate chip/chunk cookie recipe. Those who were lucky enough to taste them (namely my nephews and niece, Amos the eldest in particular) exclaimed,
“These cookies are even better than Famous Amos!”
I preened with pride….. ;-p


Not forgetting this cupcake recipe by Donna Hay. It has somewhat relegated to a ‘cult’ status among food bloggers. After baking this for the first time previously, I could see what the hype was all about. Here, I baked the original version – Peanut Butter Self-frosting Cupcakes. (FAVOURITE RECIPE)

KFC Chicken Cookies??? (Lemon Poppy Seed Oat Cookies)

Lemon Poppy Seed butter cake is one of my all-time favourite recipe. Simple to make but elegant to taste. I also like adding poppy seeds to a moist banana cake, but with the addtion of lemon zest of course. To me, the combination of lemon and poppy seeds cannot go wrong, or so it seems.

I tried to be creative today and give a twist to a rather simple but nice healthy oat cookies which I had tried before. This time, I added lemon oil and poppy seeds. During photography time, one of my nephew, Clement was excited and couldn't wait to try the cookies. So I gave him one. Then I asked him, "Nice or not?" to which he nodded his head while savouring the cookie, "Yummy! Tastes like KFC chicken."
I nearly dropped the plate of cookies that I was holding. Now, I haven't tasted the cookie yet but I was like "WTH???" I mean, I haven't had my cookies being compared to a fried chicken before, have you? Nor would I want it too. So I took a bite. Hmm, strange that it may seem, but it does taste somewhat like KFC chicken skin (haha). These cookies are the crunchy and crispy type. The addition of poppy seeds upped the 'crunch' factor and also gave it a slight peppery taste while the lemon took a back seat. It is only after a couple of bites that you could taste a slight hint of lemon. Despite having it likened to the taste of a KFC chicken skin, I wouldn't call these cookies the savoury type. Crispy, crunchy, nutty, peppery, lemony - I definitely took a liking to them.

I want a Cookie or Two (Cocoa Fudge Cranberry Cookie & Doggie Malted Cookie)

Ever since this incident, I have been increasingly attracted to cookies or for that matter, cookie recipes. Best time to try these 2 cookie recipes in my archive:

Cocoa Fudge Cranberry Cookie
Got the recipe from Esurientes. Based on a recipe by Alice Medrich, this cookie boasts the extra benefit of being low in fat as well while maintaining high in taste. Fabulous, just what I wanted!



Doggie Malted Cookies (recipe posted in Comments)
Cute, arent they? Couldn't resist baking these when I saw it here on KC. Baked using Horlicks (a type of malted drink) with no additional sugar used. It is also a cross between a butter and choc chip cookie. Nice and crunchy!

Doggies? Looked more like a dog, a bear and a mouse, don't you think? (hehe)
My nephew, Clement had fun helping me in assembling the ears, eyes and nose.

MyCoffee Snacks: Bakin Boys @ KLCC

Here’s a transcript of my ‘adventure’ at the Bakin Boys counter at KLCC:
Me goggling at the varieties of cookies on display.
Pretty attendant : Hi, would you like to try our samples?
Me : Um, sure. What do you have?
Pretty attendant : We have Peanut Parade, Cranberry Basket and Coconut Cabaret.
Me : Ok, let me try the Peanut one . Mmm.., (while savouring cookie) that’s
good. And how about the Cranberry one. Mmm… (while savouring
another cookie) This is very, very good as well.
Pretty attendant : Thanks. Would you like to buy some?
Me : Yeah, sure. But which should I have? All look so delicious.
Pretty attendant : Why don’t you buy 6? 6 pieces only cost you RM21+, and you get to
sample a variety.
Me : Oh, no-no. They are so huge and I will probably gorge all 6 by myself.
By the way, do they come in smaller sizes?
Pretty attendant : Sorry, at this time we only have them in 1 size.
Me : Ok, then. I will take the The Praliner.
Pretty attendant : Good choice. Are you sure one is enough?
Me : Yeah. They are huge! How long can I keep them just in case I can’t
finish them? Would they keep for a couple of days?
Pretty attendant : Sure, no problem at all. Here you are, 1 pc of Praliner for you (as she
hands over the bag containing the cookie).
Me : Thanks….And erm, I think I will also take another piece of The
Martian Fellow cookie.
Pretty attendant : Sure (as she gives me this knowing’ smile). Is that all?
(as she saw me eyeing the lone mini Banana Muffin glazed with Lime
Frosting sitting prettily on the counter).
I nodded rather unconvincingly. Quickly paid and scurried away before I gave in further to temptation!

Back to the cookies, The Praliner is described as “tantalizing pecans liberally sprinkled over a top crust that hides away layers of praline”. It was yummy, no doubt, although I am not sure about the “liberally” part as there was only one pecan sitting on top of the cookie. However, for a non-dark chocolate cookie, I think I prefer the Peanut or the Cranberry one. This is a little too sweet for my liking.

And as for The Martian Fellow, it is described as “scrumptious portions of melted marshmallow in thick gooey dark chocolate”. I love dark chocolate and anything that contains good dark chocolate will not go wrong with me. Having said that though, somehow I wasn’t that impressed with this cookie. Delicious as it was, it reminded me of a chocolate brownie which (at the risk of sound pompous), I can easily replicate (or at least I would like to think so).
Bakin Boys cookies are soft cookies that kinda melt in your mouth. In a way, they remind me of cookie dough.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed both cookies very much and was glad that I stay and work nowhere near KLCC where Bakin Boys is located.

Oh, by the way, the cookies didn’t even last through the night. Both of them were gone in no time. And I actually worried about not being able to finish one – what a joke!

Clearing Leftovers! (Pandan Walnut Chiffon Cake, Light AnzacBiscuits, Apple Cheddar Muffins, Raisin Cinnamon Swirl Bread)

First of all, I have to confess the recipes of choice today were picked based on some leftover ingredients that I have used before and needed to finish up before they spoil.

1st leftover ingredient: 3/4 packet coconut milk
Finished product: Pandan Walnut Chiffon Cake

It has been awhile since I last baked this. This is a thoroughly tried and tested recipe and my favourite chiffon cake recipe among a few others that I have tried. Recipe is by Amy Beh (try searching on cyberkuali.com). Always "gone in no time", it remains as a huge hit among my nephews and nieces. Basically, this cake is always baked for them. In an attempt to add a new twist to the recipe, I added some walnuts to make it more interesting.

2nd leftover ingredient: About 1/4 packet of rolled oats
Finished product: Light Anzac Biscuits

Have been wanting to bake myself some Anzac Biscuits since I received some from a BBM event some time ago. The recipe that I used here is a "lighter" version from Cooking Light. Not bad!

3rd leftover ingredient: 1 apple and some leftover cheddar cheese block
Finished product: Apple Cheese Muffins

Ah, need to use up the remaining cheddar cheese block before it starts to ferment and go to waste. Coincidentally, I have one (not-exactly-fresh) apple in the fridge that no one wants. Just perfect for this recipe. Slightly sweet and salty at the same time, it provides an interesting change to the usual sweet muffins that I baked.

Filled with apple chunks!

And also a "No-Knead" Raisin Cinnamon Bread after coming home from the Sunday Bubbly Brunch (check out the post above)

Something To Munch On (Sweet Potato Sago Jelly & Banana Oatmeal Cookies)

These days, I have been lazy when it comes to baking. My preference is for simple recipes that do not require much effort. But at the same time, it has to be 'something different'.

The 2 recipes below seems to fit the bill.

Banana Oatmeal Cookies (low-fat)

Recipe from Baking Sheet. And this has the added advantage of being 'healthy' as it is low in fat. The kids at home do not fancy them so I brought them to my office. Ideal as snacks when feeling hungry in the office. They are soft and chewy, almost cake-like. The banana was pretty evident on day one, but subsequently it mellowed till it became hardly noticeable. On my next try, I might try adding more banana and reducing the sugar level (find it slightly too sweet).

Sweet Potato & Sago Jelly

This didn't exactly turn out well. The sago layer was too hard! However, the sweet potato layer tasted rather nice. Recipe from Kuali.

Cookies Baking Day (Crispy Ginger Cinnamon Oatmeal & Puffy Cheese Cookies)

Suddenly in the mood to bake cookies instead of something heavier, say a cake. Picked these 2 recipes.

Crispy Ginger Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
Original recipe found here.

I really like these cookies. Crispy and not too sweet. Perfect for office-snacking. I added about 1/2tsp of ground ginger and 1/4tsp of cinnamon powder. I think I will double them up the next time for their taste were only faintly evident.

Puffy Cheese Cookies
Original recipe here.

I sprinkled sesame seeds and shredded cheese on top of the cut cookies prior to baking. These cookies puffed up during baking resulting in a really puffy and crispy cookies. Taste wise, you will feel as if you are eating puffy cheese sticks. Not a bad thing though.

For the Kids (Vanilla Madeleines, Sugar Butter Cookies, Red Bean Ice-cream

It was a long weekend with Monday being a holiday (Worker’s Day). Baked some stuff to keep their mouths occupied. Otherwise I shall have no peace.

Vanilla Madeleines (recipe found here)
These were as good as claimed. I managed to take a bite but the rest was gone within 2 hours.


Sugar Butter Cookies (recipe from latest issue of Appetite Magazine). Simple and nice! The kids helped me with cutting out the cookies. They had fun (although their poor aunt was starting to develop a headache by the time they were almost done).


Red Bean Ice-Cream (recipe from kuali.com using condensed milk and evaporated milk). Smooth but slightly too sweet with the milks and red bean paste that I used).