Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Almond Chocolate Chip Sandies


Is it possible to live without an obsession with institutionalized American desserts? 

Think about it. What the hell was you craving before you first caught your tongue on that first bite of red velvet layer cake?  Don’t even get me started on pie. All pie. Pumpkin. Pecan. Apple. Bar pork, but that’s not even from the states and who likes jellied meat encased in hot water crust pastry anyway?

I’m not an American. But as I discover edible American staples, I wonder why I haven’t packed my bags and jetted off to Boston to formerly beg Joanne Chang for that job at Flour.

Pecan Sandies are an old American tradition that lives on to this day, piled high in most American supermarkets. They are shortbread-like biscuits with crunchy chopped pecans added to the mix, and then heavily dusted with sugar before and after baking.  You really can’t go wrong. 

I don’t know when sandies came about, or what maid accidently fell onto a cake pan and flattened it out to reveal a cookie pan and suddenly someone in the 1800’s invented the pecan sandie.


I wanted to take this oil-based biscuit and make a strictly ‘no pecan’ meal out of it (change is good), sooooo seeing as I (women) cant live without chocolate, I threw in an overflowing handful of it for good measure. 

Shortbread and chocolate have always worked well together and as my sandies are not bearing pecans, it goes without saying that the almond/chocolate/buttery biscuit combo is indescribable.


This is a little out of the blue but on Sunday I will Race For Life in Blackheath with my cousins! It is such a worthy cause, please take a look at our page to read why we’re doing it :) 

I will update in my next post as to whether my sugar addiction overcame my ability to cross the finish line....


On a slightly more boring slash kinda important note

Some of you might be aware of Google’s latest assassination. Google Reader has been shoved through the front, back and side door. I have been using Feedly and Bloglovin’ to stay up to date with the latest in the blogosphere. If you want to keep reading mbakes, you can easily subscribe via Email, Feedly (subscribe by clicking Add Content in top left hand corner) or Bloglovin’. 

I am also on Facebook, Twitter and Pintrest! So there really is no getting away from me.



















Almond Chocolate Chip Sandies

Ingredients:
100g unsalted butter, softened
100g caster sugar + extra for sprinkling on top
125ml sunflower oil
340g sifted plain flour
1 egg, large
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt 
100g sliced almonds + extra for topping
A handful of milk chocolate chips / 100g

Makes 20 large biscuits

The Method

In a mixer, beat together sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the sunflower oil and beat until foamy, about 4 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla until incorporated.

Sift in the flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tarter and beat on low until a dough forms. Add sliced almonds and chocolate and mix through with a spatula.

Wrap tightly in cling film and refrigerate for half an hour, or over night.

Preheat the oven to 170 C and line 2 baking trays with baking parchment.

Roll 20 walnut sized balls and place on baking trays, the cookies will not spread so do not worry about spacing them too far apart. Sprinkle a load of caster sugar over each ball.

Take 2 to 3 sliced almonds and press them into each ball to flatten the cookie slightly. Sprinkle with more sugar.

Bake for 12 minutes, until the cookies have only slightly browned and are still largely pale. Leave to cool completely on the baking trays to continue the baking process without browning the biscuits. Biscuits will keep for 3 days in an airtight container.


Love Em xx

7 comments:

  1. I'm sure these'll help you get over the finish line! I've never heard of a sandie before but they look reaaally good indeed, wonderful photographs. I like the red and white paper bags especially, they remind me of the sweet shop (:
    from Em x

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    1. thank you emily! you can find them at an amazing little online show www.bakerandmaker.com - darn cheap too! x

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  2. These look so good, I actually like the sound of chocolate and almond sandies more than pecan. Love that they're entirely coated in sugar too. Hope they give you a sufficient sugar boost for the race on Sunday!

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    1. thank you jo! I'l deffo need it...i havent trained much at all! chocolate in a biscuit is always a must unless its all butter shortbread !

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  3. I can totally relate on the obsession with American Desserts. Cheery pie? All the pies?? Cookies, sundaes, layer cakes, donuts? Those 'muricans really have the market cornered. Pass me a sandie, will you?

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    1. haha. gladly, we need something to drown our british sorrows !

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  4. I've never had a sandie but your pictures have convinced me to try baking some this weekend! Beautiful pictures :)

    ps: good luck with the race!

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