Surprise #1: B's Triple Chocolate Cookies 🍫😋 [Public]

[Alternate Text: A header image of a closeup on a triple chocolate cookie. It's a dark brown cookie since the dough is chocolate, though it's studded with white chocolate chips.]

Beckett and Ruby

"Are you going to add a heart out of chocolate chips for [Surname]?"

Beckett almost pulls something in his neck when he glances up to see that Ruby has materialized within the B&B's kitchen. Much like a cat, the Verner heir is idly messing with a canister of sprinkles, pushing it around to produce a faint tinkling noise. "Wha—? When did you get here? The party isn't for another—"

"I prefer to be fashionably early rather than late," Ruby breezily interrupts. "These could work as well? I like the cut-out design of the pink sugar. Speaking of cut-outs, I was asked to help your dear friend with their Valentine's outfit." Her smile becomes a touch mischievous as she elegantly slides off of the counter, though she pauses by Beckett's side to hand over the sprinkles. "Whatever you do will be heartfelt, not to mention delicious, yes? Do not worry." 

With that, Ruby leaves Beckett in the kitchen, which is where he's been hunkered down for the last few hours since this is your first Valentine's day together as an official couple. 

  Becca and Reese

"Are you going to add a heart out of chocolate chips for [Surname]?"

Becca almost pulls something in her neck when she glances up to see that Reese has materialized within the B&B's kitchen. Much like a cat, the Verner heir is idly messing with a canister of sprinkles, pushing it around to produce a faint tinkling noise. "Wha—? When did you get here? The party isn't for another—"

"I prefer to be fashionably early rather than late," Reese breezily interrupts. "These could work as well? I like the cut-out design of the pink sugar. Speaking of cut-outs, I was asked to help your dear friend with their Valentine's outfit." His smile becomes a touch mischievous as he elegantly slides off of the counter, though he pauses by Becca's side to hand over the sprinkles. "Whatever you do will be heartfelt, not to mention delicious, yes? Do not worry."

With that, Reese leaves Becca in the kitchen, which is where she's been hunkered down for the last few hours since this is your first Valentine's day together as an official couple.

Below you will find the recipe for B's Triple Chocolate Cookies. It yields a delectable batch of chocolate cookies that have a nice chew and rich flavor to them; they might remind you of brownies! These cookies are perfect for Valentine's Day, especially if you decorate them to add some red, white, or pink sprinkles against the dark chocolate cookie base. 

(While my other recipes come from aged note cards in my mom's recipe box, this one comes from this website: here. So, credit to this epic baker! There are also interesting notes about the science behind the baking and how these cookies get their distinct texture. 😉)

Please enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day! 💕

Ingredients

• 60g / 4 tbsp  unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cups (120g)  brown sugar, tightly packed
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 egg yolks, at room temperature 
• 2 tbsp glucose (you can substitute light corn syrup, I did.)
•  1 cup (150g)  flour , plain/all purpose
•  1/2 tsp baking powder
•  1/4 cup (30g) cocoa powder, unsweetened, preferably Dutch processed (I used Hershey's Special Dark blend and added a little extra.) 
•  3/4 cup (150g) white chocolate chips 
•  1/2 cup (100g) dark chocolate chips
• 1/4 tsp of salt (I added this!)
• Note About Chocolate Chips: Go with the composition you like! If you like it sweet, then go for white. If you like it dark, go for it. I didn't do a full 3/4 of white chocolate chips, and I then split the half cup of dark by mixing it 50/50 with semi-sweet chocolate chips. You do need to use high-quality chocolate chips, especially for the white ones, like Ghirardelli! 

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 190C/375F (If you have a convection oven with a fan, use 170C or 330F) with one shelf in the middle and another under it.
• Use a bowl at room temperature, not ice cold glass/metal. (The butter will go hard).
• Place butter in bowl and beat until smooth– about 30 seconds on speed 5 with a hand mixer or stand one.
• Add sugar and beat for 45 sec to 1 min until light and fluffy.
• Add yolks, beat until fully incorporated (~20 sec).
• Add vanilla and glucose, beat until incorporated (~15 sec).
• Add flour, baking powder and cocoa. Stir with wooden spoon until incorporated (will be a stiff dough). 
• Mix through chocolate chips.
• Scoop / roll 12 balls a touch smaller than a golf ball, then flatten to 1cm / 2/5″ thick on baking trays (2 trays).
• Bake both trays for 10 minutes.
• Take top tray out, move tray underneath to top shelf and bake a further 1 minute then remove. The cookies will look ever so slightly undercooked  in the center – they will finish cooking on the tray (This is how they become chewy!)
• Leave cookies to cool on the tray for 20 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack. (I didn't do this! I watched them and then took them off based on appearance.) 
• Allow to cool fully before serving (becomes chewy when cools, even better the next day!)

Fun Extras

• Yet another recipe where you can freeze the dough balls to take them out when you would like something sweet. They freeze exceptionally well! :D
• For Valentine's Day, you could likely buy the colored white chocolate or pop some heart themed sprinkles on the cookies while they are cooling. 💞💕💖 They'll be pretty!
• These are rich like a brownie, so you might want some whip cream or milk, etc. on the side.