Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies (Sandies or Meltaways)

These dark chocolate shortbread cookies were actually an accident. They were one of the variations that I came up with (#3 to be exact) while I was trying to create my Decadent Double Chocolate Cookies (Nut-free, Coconut-free, Egg-free).  My first thought was complete disappointment that the texture was so crumbly and melty and shortbread like, even more “short” than the two variations previous.  Man!  This recipe has two eggs in it!  How can it make a shortbread!  I was frustrated (I was trying to develop a chewy cookie after all).  However, the flavor was so good that I decided to shelf that variation for future recipe development.  And this is the result!   A super luxurious dark chocolate shortbread cookie.  Drizzled with homemade white chocolate.  Perfect!

These are a dark chocolate cookie and they aren’t very sweet (but super chocolaty!).  If you want to make them sweeter, you can use semisweet chocolate instead of bittersweet.  You could also add a Mexican chocolate kick to these by adding some cayenne pepper and cinnamon.

The white chocolate drizzle is a modification of this recipe from Paleo Parents (the only real modification is that I use less sugar).  I used evaporated cane juice to sweeten the sugar wich gives it an almost caramel color.  If you want a whiter white chocolate (which would be good if you wanted to add coloring), I would suggest using white sugar.  You could also melt white chocolate chips ( Lieber’s Decorating Chips and VeganSweets White Chocolate Chips are dairy-free) or use dark chocolate instead or just leave the cookies plain.

For those with sensitivities, these cookies are nut-free and coconut-free!  The recipe doesn’t even use starches!

Yield: 1 dozen

Ingredients (Dark Chocolate Shortbread):

• 7oz bittersweet dark chocolate (about 70%, I used 4 ounces semisweet and 3 ounces unsweetened)
• 3 Tbsp palm shortening (or substitute unsalted butter)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla (or substitute espresso)
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/8 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Melt chocolate and palm shortening together in the microwave or on low heat on the stovetop.  Let the chocolate cool slightly (maybe 4-5 minutes) before adding the rest of the ingredients.
3. Stir in vanilla and cocoa powder.
4. Add eggs one at a time mixing very quickly as you add them so that they do not scramble.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly.
5. Form cookie patties by spooning rounded tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet (it’s okay if the dough is still warm). Flatten with your hand or the back of a spatula or bottom of a glass, to about ¼” or slightly thicker.  These cookies don’t spread much while baking so whatever shape you make them now will be pretty much the finished shape.
6. Bake for 9 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool completely on cookie sheet or a wire rack.
7. Once cooled, drizzle with Paleo white chocolate.  You could also drizzle with dark chocolate or eat them as is!

Ingredients (Paleo White Chocolate):

• 1 1/2 oz cocoa butter (by weight)
• 2 Tbsp evaporated cane juice (for whiter chocolate use white sugar)
• 1 tsp arrowroot powder

1. Blend sugar in a food processor or blender until it forms a fine white powder (I used a Magic Bullet).  Mix sugar with arrowroot powder and set aside.
2. Melt cocoa butter in microwave or over low heat on stovetop.  This takes longer than you think, so keep setting the microwave for one more minute, stir and check, one more minute, etc.  I think it took about 3 minutes in total, but it would depend on how big your chucks of cocoa butter are.
3. Once the cocoa butter is melted, mix in sugar and arrowroot powder a little bit at a time whisking thoroughly to help the sugar dissolve.  If you wanted you could add a few drops of flavoring (vanilla, orange oil, cinnamon…  peppermint oil would completely rock and be like a Girl Scout Thin Mint in reverse! See my White and Dark Paleo Mint Chocolate Bark bark recipe).
4. Let the white chocolate cool until it is still warm enough to be liquid but thick enough to drizzle. Place your cookies on a plate or piece of parchment paper (not touching each other) and use a spoon and drizzle over dark chocolate shortbread.  Let cool until hardened.  Enjoy!