Day 16: Spicy Chocolate Stars

These caught my eye when I saw that they would pair well with a fruity Italian wine, especially after my wine fundraiser last night. Which went extremely well! I'm so blessed by all of the support I received...thanks everyone! Everyone seemed to really like these cookies, too. They are a deep, rich chocolate that is enhanced by the little bit of cayenne - it really kicks you in the back of the throat when you least expect it! So, get out that nice rich Italian wine and make a batch of these to curl up with on a cold winter night...

Spicy Chocolate Stars
makes about 4 dozen (depending on size of cookie cutter)

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1 cup Earth Balance vegan butter
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 2 TBS organic cane sugar
• 1 large egg white

Lightly whisk flour, cocoa powder, cayenne pepper, and salt in medium bowl. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer with the bigger blade whisks, combine butter and both sugars until creamy. Add egg white and beat thoroughly. Slowly add dry ingredients until incorporated. 

Turn dough out onto a work surface (silpat mat works well) and knead until dough comes together. Divide dough in half and press into a disc. Place each disc between two pieces of wax or parchment paper and roll out to about 1/4 inch thick. Place in freezer for at least an hour, until very firm. 

Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove dough from freezer and, working with one disc at a time, peel off top layer of paper. Using a small-medium star shaped cookie cutter, cut out stars from dough and place on lined baking sheet about an inch apart. Repeat with second disc and the scraps of each one. 

Bake at 350F for about 15 minutes, until just firm, making sure you turn cookie sheets about halfway through baking. Let cool for 2-3 minutes. Serve with some vino, kick back, relax and enjoy the night!

Roomie Reactions...

Megan: "I've never had spicy chocolate before and you don't realize it's spicy until right at the end and then it's like BAM!"