Wednesday 30 January 2013

Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies


Chinese New Year is less than two weeks away and everyone seems to be in a baking frenzy. Everywhere I look it is cookies, cookies and more cookies. And here I am collecting everybody's recipe and so far no action taken. To top that off, I have never baked a cookie my whole life. My baking adventure started only last year and so far its been cakes, muffins and nothing else.


Besides the recipes I collected from my blogger friends, I also thumbed through my cookbooks. The first one being Agnes Chang's Baking Made Easy. And I couldn't make up my mind which cookie to bake. As I was tidying up my bookshelf, I stumbled upon Shahriah Abdullah's cookbook, Sajian Istimewa. I have been wanting to try Shahriah's recipes and as usual, I had earlier flipped and admired the pictures instead.



As I sat down to check Shahriah's book, the page on Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies (Biskut Red Velvet Coklat Cip) fell open. The die was cast. This is going to be my first ever cookie. And a red velvet one at that. Boy, was I motivated! On Saturday I went shopping for nuts and that evening I roasted some almonds and hazelnuts.



I love Shahriah's cookies and as you can see from the recipe below, these cookies are crammed with lots of chocolate chips, almonds and raisins. Being a cookies newbie, I had my anxieties and apprehensions. The first time I made these cookies, I was very diligent. I rolled the cookie dough into balls and I baked them for 20 minutes. Later I realized that the cookie was crisp all the way through and I wanted something crispy on the outside but softer on the inside. So I baked the last batch for 15 minutes only. The cookies were soft when they first came out of the oven and firmed up when cooled. And the texture was just right. Crispy on the outside and crumbly on the inside.


Finally PH does dainty :)

The second time I attempted these cookies, I followed Shahriah's instruction to just use a teaspoon to drop the cookie dough onto the baking tray. It was a lot easier and I like the funky uneven shapes.

Not so dainty, more my style!

My only difficulty when preparing the cookie dough was mixing it. The batter is quiet dense and took quite a bit of arm work to fold in the flour. But it was worth it. The cookies are really yummy as they contain lots of chocolate chips, nuts and dried fruit. I used dried mixed berries in my first attempt and dried cranberries in my second attempt (the one you are seeing here). Red food coloring is added to give these cookies a reddish tinge. And one more thing, chopping the nuts were a real chore. Drove me nuts!

I am reproducing Shahriah's recipe below with my modifications in red. I was very pleased with the cookies. The sweetness was just right. I omitted the castor sugar as the chocolate chips are already sweet.










Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe source : Sajian Istimewa Shahriah Abdullah (page 140)

Ingredients :
- 200g butter (I put the whole 250g pack in)
- 100g brown sugar (I used muscavado sugar)
- 50g castor sugar (I omitted)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 250g flour (I used self raising flour)
- 1 tablespoon milk powder (I omitted)
- 20g cocoa powder
- Salt to taste (I put 1/4 teaspoon)
- 200g chocolate chips
- 200g chopped almonds (I used 100g almonds and 100g hazelnuts)
- 100g raisins (I used dried cranberries)
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring

Method :
1. Sift flour, milk powder and cocoa powder. Mix well and set aside.
2. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add red coloring, chocolate chips, raisins and almonds. Mix evenly.
4. Add sifted ingredients and mix until mixture forms a dough.
5. Spoon cookie batter onto baking trays lined with baking paper.
6. Bake in preheated oven at 170C for 15-20 minutes (I baked at 160C for 15 minutes for a crispy exterior and softer  interior. For a crispy all the way cookie, I baked for 20 minutes)



I am submitting this post to Chinese New Year Delights 2013 hosted by Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover.

66 comments:

  1. mmg kena sgt la kan, kukis kaler merah dgn CNY :)

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    Replies
    1. Memang! Masa CNY kita kena tayang semua yang warna merah :)

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  2. Hi Phong Hong,
    Aaah.....at least I am seeing you baking cookies now! Just love it and I bet this "Ang Ang" cookies brings out the CNY feeling. Every bite of this "Ang Ang" cookies will bring good luck and prosperous throughout the year, right?

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    1. Mel, at long last I baked cookies! Yah, hope munching these cookies will bring good luck and prosperity and not...fats....

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  3. The colours are really pretty, very auspicious for CNY!

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    1. Mich, all reds things are welcome for CNY!

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  4. Hi Phong Hong, beautiful cookies. This look very addictive and great to go with tea or coffee. Save some for me, I'm coming to your place. LOL

    Have a nice day ahead,regards.

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  5. Phong Hong, Congratulations on your first homemade cookies!
    They really looks pretty, crunchy and yummmy!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Esther! I was very inspired by my fellow bloggers and you are one of my inspirations!

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  6. The colour like Kampar chicken biscuits...

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    1. Oh, really??? Hah! Hah! I thought they looked like meatballs when I first rolled them into balls :)

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  7. Great job cuz. If you can bake cakes and muffins, I reckoned cookies are much easier. So, looking forward to see more cookies from you.... And here's wishing you and family a joyous and prosperous CNY. (We're going back to KT for a week, you going???)

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    1. Thank you, Daphne! Too bad I am not celebrating in KT this year :( Anyway, I hope you have a great time in KT with your family. And a joyous and prosperous CNY to you and all at home!

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  8. wahhh.. dah siap sedia dgn cookies CNY ye Phong? bestnyer... this year hopefully I sempat ziarah sahabat my mum sempena CNY di rumah mereka... tak sabar nak mkn cookies CNY yg sedap2..

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    1. MaDiHaA, ini lah kali pertama PH buat cookies. Hari yang penuh bersejarah, hee..hee...Kalau pergi visiting time CNY mesti ada banyak cookies untuk kita makan. Tapi jangan terlebih pulak, itu menternak lemak namanya...

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  9. You are all great up for CNY? I don't think I come across red velvet choc chip cookies before but I also have a soft spot for anything chocolate.

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    1. Gertrude, I was very inspired by all of my fellow bloggers including yourself! Very historic for me as it was my first ever cookies :)

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  10. Weh, "ang ang" cookies, I like the colour, full of CNY feel! Can send some over here, hehe!

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    1. Can, I send by Fedex but scared by the time it gets there, all become crumbs hee..hee...

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  11. Hi there, first time visiting your blog via Sonia's CNY event. Looks like a lot of great CNY recipes here for me to try :) -Yen

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    Replies
    1. Hi Yen! Thanks for coming over, I'll hop over and visit you in a bit!

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  12. These look so color ful and perfectly baked. wish i could have some, truly tempting

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    Replies
    1. Swasthi, do try these cookies. They are quite easy to prepare and taste really good.

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  13. Hi Phong Hong, looks very nice. But I can only it bookmarked it for next year. I like the colour which will make the cookie platter very colourful with other cookies.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kimmy! Yah lah, you have already baked so many cookies so save this one for next year :)

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  14. first time dropping by too, but love this because it's red which is suitable for both CNY and valentine's day!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Janine! Thanks for dropping by. I will come over and visit you soon!

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  15. Wow! Nice color & tasty cookies! These are so festive & 'ang-ang'. I've just started baking some CNY cookies coz over here in France the choices are limited! Only have those husband & wifey cookies , pineapple tart, Love letters & mochi!!! I've only started making CNY cookies last year & that was only one variety ! LOL This year I've made 3 types so far, hopefully have TIME to make a couple more before CNY ! hehehehe

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    Replies
    1. Kit, it's fun making cookies isn't it? This is my first try and I am so geared up to bake some more. Eagerly waiting to see more cookies from you :)

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  16. Loving the color... The cookies look so tempting

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  17. Hi PH, this is the first time i have heard of red velvet cookies. I also havent bake any cny cookies, tired la, cooking meals everyday for the family is enough work d, summore want to bake cny cookies :pp but i must say your recipe combination sounds good, and certainly something different from the usual peanut/almond cookies gang. Bookmarked for me to try, most probably after cny haha.

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    1. Esther, baking cookies is time consuming. It's not like cake where we can plop the whole thing in a tin. Scooping tiny bits of dough and baking in two or three batches needs lots of patience too. But it can be fun if you are not pressed for time. Hey, you should try it during school holidays and get your kid to help out :)

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  18. ohh "ang ang" red velvet cookies ..very nice leh....! Never tried this cookie before I bet it must be tasty.

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    1. Li Shuan, they are pretty good because full of choc chips, nuts and dried fruits. I could not stop eating and had to tape the bottle cover shut hah! hah!

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  19. Replies
    1. Hee..hee...as long as I don't "pau huat"!

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  20. Phong Hong,
    When i first looked at the picture,i though they're meat balls.
    after read your description,my eyeball almost falling down,they are cookies!!!Wow.... First time I see these,so cute~
    I think those cookies not only look great but also taste great~ can give a name:meal-ball cookies,i love it,hahaha.

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    1. Hah! Hah! When I first rolled the dough, I thought they looked like meatballs. Yah, meatball cookies can be a nice new cookie, hor?

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  21. perfectly baked.. like its color a lot..

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    1. Thanks, PT. It tastes very good, nice combo of choc, nuts and fruits.

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  22. wow, lovely cookies! I have never tried baking red velvet cookies! And yes, I sometimes goes nuts chopping up nuts! LOL!

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    Replies
    1. Joyce, if only there is an easier way to chop nuts!

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  23. gong xi gong xi for making your first cookies!! red velvet cookies is something really special and sure will delight everyone as red is the colour for cny. After tossing your chinese salad and then this, sure prosper!!!

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    1. Kamsiah, kamsiah! Hope so can prosper and "Huat"!

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  24. Hooray! Your first cookies were a success! They look wonderful.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lizzy! I am so proud of myself hee..hee...

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  25. Wow! What a great to celebrate with such an auspicious colour! Hope these cookies bring you lots of good luck and happiness in the year of snake.

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    1. Thanks, Zoe! But I suspect these cookies will make me fatter instead hah! hah!

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  26. Something looks delicious here! With a glass of fresh milk... mmmmmm heaven!

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    1. Hi there MamaFaMi! Kids will love their fresh milk with cookies. Me I am lactose intolerant, if I drink milk habis cerita....

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  27. very Ong lar this cookie, i am sure your will Huat Ah the whole year of 2013, hehehe..
    nicely done for the 1st bake, more to come ya..

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    1. Thank you, Sonia! But I think my fats will Huat more than anything else hee..hee..Some more want to make more cookies....cham liao...

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  28. This is indeed very auspicious for CNY, ang, ang cookies!

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    1. Oh yes, very suitable for the occasion!

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  29. Devono essere buoni! Io ancora non li ho mai fatti. Accumulo anche io tante ricette che le dimentico! Ciao a poresto

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    1. Oh sì, erano buone! Hai ragione, troppe ricette ci rendono difficile decidere quale cuocere. Si tratta di un mal di testa.

      (Oh yes, they were good! You are right, too many recipes make it difficult for us to decide which one to bake. It's such a headache!)

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  30. A very prosperous colored cookie:D I like, no need to stick any red paper:D

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    Replies
    1. Jeannie, I will also get a red mark for my diet progress report hah! hah!

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  31. I've always tried red velvet cupcakes & this is my first time seeing cookies! Awesome bakes, PH!

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  32. Hi Phong Hong,
    Sorry ah I busy, only now come to taste your cookies.
    I love 'ang ang' cookies.
    This must be really nice to munch on:)
    mui

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    Replies
    1. mui mui, these cookies are very full of ingredients - nuts, choc chips and dried fruits - very yummy!

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  33. can i use Top flour instead of self raising flour?

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  34. can i use Top flour instead of self raising flour?

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