Tahini, chocolate and orange cookies
Dense and earthy with a slightly bitter edge, tahini adds an interesting dimension to baking, especially in recipes which may be cloyingly sweet. The combination of cornflour and icing sugar results in cookies with a lighter, crisper crumb, a nice contrast against the smooth chocolate pieces. You could use choc chips, but I love the way a block of chocolate breaks into uneven shards when chopped with a serrated knife, then, crucially, melts into uneven pools when baked.
Ingredients
230g plain flour
50g cornflour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
125g unsalted butter, at room temperature, cubed
100g icing sugar
80g dark brown sugar
zest of 1 orange (2 tsp)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
100g tahini
2 tsp vanilla essence
150g chocolate, roughly chopped
Method
1. Sift together the flour, cornflour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.
2. Place the butter, icing sugar, brown sugar and zest in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until lightened, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the egg, then the tahini and vanilla. Beat to incorporate, then add the sifted dry ingredients in 3 batches, again on low speed. Finally, add the chopped chocolate and mix until just combined.
3. Cover the bowl with cling film, pressing so it is in contact with the surface of the dough, and refrigerate for at least an hour, or preferably overnight.
4. When ready to bake, remove the bowl from the fridge and allow to stand at room temperature for about half an hour, or until the dough is soft enough to be scooped.
5. Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan-forced), and line two oven trays with baking paper. Using a medium-sized ice-cream scoop (about 4.5cm; 30ml capacity) or two spoons, scrape the dough to form balls (roughly 40g) and place on the trays about 5cm apart. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are golden brown. If baking two trays at the same time, you may need to switch and rotate them so they cook evenly.
6. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes until cookies are firm enough to handle, then transfer to a wire rack or plate. They are best eaten warm, when the chocolate is still slightly molten, but will keep in an airtight container for 3 days.
Note: The dough, once formed into balls, may also be frozen for up to three months. Bake straight from the freezer, giving them a minute or two longer in the oven.
If you like this recipe, try Helen's spiced chocolate, spelt and hazelnut crackle cookies.
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Helen Goh is a chef and regular Good Weekend columnist.
