Marzipan Stuffed Dark Chocolate Cookies

Marzipan Stuffed Dark Chocolate Cookies

Categories:

Cookies, Brownies & Bars
Christmas
Valentine's day
Lunar New Year
Winter
Yields
2 dozen cookies
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
8 to 10 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1¾ cups (219 g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (33 g) almond flour
  • ¼ cup (25 g) cocoa powder (dark)
  • 1 tsp (1 g) espresso powder
  • 1 tsp (5 g) baking powder
  • ½ tsp (2 g) baking soda
  • ½ tsp (3 g) salt
  • ⅔ cup (145 g) butter, melted
  • ¾ cup (163 g) Redpath® Dark Brown Sugar, packed
  • ½ cup (60 g) Redpath® Icing Sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp (2 ml) pure almond extract
  • 1 pkg (200 g) marzipan
  • 3 to 4 drops red gel food colouring
Redpath Dark Brown Sugar
Dark Brown Sugar
Instructions
For the marzipan filling:

Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, almond flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until mixed well and no lumps remain.

In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together the melted butter, Redpath® Dark Brown Sugar, and Redpath® Icing Sugar until thoroughly combined; about 2 minutes. Add in the egg, pure vanilla extract, and pure almond extract and mix until completely blended into the batter.

Add in half of the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. Add in the remaining dry ingredients and mix until no flour streaks remain; do not overmix. Cover and place into the fridge to rest.

In a bowl, break up the marzipan; alternatively, place marzipan into the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times. Add in 2 to 3 drops of red gel food colouring and knead until the desired colour is reached and the colour is evenly spread throughout the marzipan.

Adding red food colouring to marzipan with a toothpick

Kneading red food colouring and marzipan using gloves

Remove the cookie dough from the fridge. With a small ice cream scoop (or about 1½ tablespoons) scoop the dough and form into balls. Flatten each scoop into a disc.

Flattened ball of dark chocolate cookie dough

Place about 1 teaspoon of the marzipan into the centre of each disc.

Folding a ball of marzipan into a disc of dark chocolate cookie dough

Encase the marzipan with the cookie dough. Roll into a ball and place onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the balls about 1½ to 2 inches apart. With the flat bottom of a drinking glass or the palm of your hand, flatten each cookie to about ¼ inch thick.

Flattening balls of dark chocolate cookie dough on a baking sheet by hand

Place into the freezer to chill; 15 minutes.

Place chilled cookies into the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cracks begin to form on the tops of the cookies. Remove and let cool on the pan; 5 minutes. Carefully remove cookies and place onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Completely cooled cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

A plate of dark chocolate cookies stuffed with red marzipan shown with a cup of coffee

CHEF'S TIPS

*Use a toothpick to add drops of red gel food colouring to the marzipan.

*Marzipan can be found in most grocery stores or bulk food stores.

*If marzipan is dry, add a teaspoon (5 ml) of rosewater or water and knead or process it in a food processor to combine. Continue to add a teaspoon of desired liquid into the marzipan until it is just pliable but not liquefied.

*To prevent staining of hands, wear disposable gloves when kneading the red food colouring into the marzipan.