Valrhona Double Choc Cookies

October 12, 2012 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

A nice change from our usual chocolate chip cookies, this double choc version was very popular with the tribe!

I had some Valrhona Caraïbe 66% dark chocolate to use up and this twist on an old Mrs Fields’ recipe seemed the ideal foil for it…

375g (2½ cups) plain (AP) flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
55g (½ cup) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
210g (1 cup, packed) dark brown sugar
165g (¾ cup) white sugar
250g (1 cup) unsalted butter
3 large (59g) free range eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I used homemade)
350g (12oz or about 2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips (I used 250g Valrhona Caraïbe and 100g Callebaut 811 54% dark)

1. Sift together the flour, bicarb soda and cocoa powder. Don’t skip this step, or the bicarb and cocoa will leave hard bitter lumps in your finished cookie dough. Stir in the sea salt.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat together the sugars and butter until just combined. Scrape down the sides and add the eggs and vanilla, beat until combined.

3. Add the flour mixture and all the choc chips (I cut the Valrhona fèves in half), and beat until just combined – do not overwork the dough. Cover the mixing bowl with cling film and refrigerate until firm (I left my dough in the fridge overnight).

4. Preheat oven to 150C (300F) with fan. Line two large baking trays with parchment paper. Use a greased icecream scoop to measure out rounded portions of dough onto the tray – the dough will be stiff. Allow room to spread. Bake for 18 – 22 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

This recipe makes about 40 cookies.

All the cookies were gone within days, and the boys have already asked me to bake another batch!

Posted in Recipes | 62 Comments

62 Responses

on October 12, 2012 at 12:05 am Sally

Just what I need to make this weekend. Cheers Celia
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:21 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Hope you like them, Sally! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 12:13 am trialsinfood

i can see why they were a hit…looks so yummy!
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:22 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you! I’ve been told I need to bake another batch this weekend – the last lot are all gone! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 12:16 am Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen

Double chocolate.. I would do a double back flip.. no, can’t do those, double cartwheel.. nope, too old, how about a double take.. if I could have one with my coffee this morning. Incidentally, my coffee just happens to be a chocolate flavored one.. so that’d be triple chocolate heaven:D xx
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:23 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Barb, you’re too funny! I’ve seen you leap off the edge on that flying fox harness now, so I reckon you could do anything – double back flip, cartwheel and more! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 12:35 am Pam

Oh dear, I really shouldn’t read recipes like these. Lets see if I can wait till the weekend!
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:24 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  You need to keep feeding that growing baby, Pam! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 12:36 am niasunset

seems so delicious, how much I love them! Thanks and Love, nia
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:24 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you, Nia! I hope you’re feeling better, love.. xx
on October 12, 2012 at 12:51 am thecompletecookbook

Scrumity.
:-) Mandy
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Mandy. :)
on October 12, 2012 at 1:09 am Christine (FoodWineTravel)

Wow, Celia, these look amazing!
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Christine! And thanks for the head up about the Grace Hotel on twitter!
on October 12, 2012 at 1:50 am sallybr

Celia, I woke up today craving chocolate. Strange, I don’t usually have this type of craving. Seeing your post put me in intense salivation mode, and I wish I had 4 of these babies in front of me. I guarantee you they would not be in front of me for very long….

(I love Ms Field’s recipe, thanks for reminding me that I should get that cookbook out to play sometime)
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:28 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sally, I adore the Mrs Fields’ Cookbook, it’s a shame it’s now out of print! Easy to follow, and concise, and almost always work!
on October 12, 2012 at 1:50 am Glenda

Hi Celia, no wonder the boys devoured them. They look lovely.
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:29 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Glenda! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 2:01 am Choclette

I love the way you say you have some Valrhona chocolate to use up ;-)

You’re a better woman than I am Celia (which I’ve always known), I tend to hang on to any good quality chocolate for “just the right occasion” which generally doesn’t seem to occur.

Your cookies sound intensely chocolatey and delicious.
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:31 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Hardly a better woman, Choc, just an older one. :) And corny as this sounds, it makes me happy to feed my boys the very best I can.. :)
on October 12, 2012 at 5:36 am hotlyspiced

I used to love Mrs Fields cookies. I didn’t know her recipes were available. What wonderful looking biscuits. I’m not surprised they disappeared with haste xx
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:31 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Charlie, the recipes in the cookbook aren’t a replica of her commercial ones, but they are very good nonetheless!
on October 12, 2012 at 5:38 am Lizzy (Good Things)

How delicious!
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:32 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Lizzy!
on October 12, 2012 at 5:38 am Heidi

How do these compare to your sable cut biscuits? Because they are my go to chocolate cookie.
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:32 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Heidi, these are less refined and more cakey than the sable cookies. I haven’t made them in ages, thanks for the reminder! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 6:44 am Jane @ Shady Baker

I can almost smell them Celia! Yum!
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:32 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Jane! They did smell amazing, actually.. :)
on October 12, 2012 at 6:56 am theintolerantchef

How on earth do you keep your figure Celia? Your boys are lucky they have good metabolisms :)
This recipe looks amazing indeed, so rich and sweet- yummo! Xox
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:34 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Aah you’re kind, Becca. :) About half of the cakes and cookies I bake go out the door, so it’s not too bad! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 7:47 am Rose

You cruel and heartless woman! I just went to the biscuit jar to get biscuits for morning tea and it’s empty! (Well there is one for Mum.) I’m taking some fruit bread to the shop to toast but I wish I could take some of these! Thanks Celia, this is already on my to-do list.
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:34 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sorry darling, if you were closer, I’d deliver! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 7:54 am rozmacallan

They look like a biscuit that you could never limit to one only. Just imagine two with some home made icecream in the centre, my mind is racing.
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:34 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Roz, don’t suggest that to my boys, or they’ll eat them twice as fast!! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 8:07 am My Kitchen Stories

Delicious Valrahona delicasies. One day when your boys are married and their wives are cooking for them they will never be happy because most mums ( other than the ones that work in food wholesale) dont make cookies with Valrhona, Callebaut or Amedei choolate and they wont be able to work out why they NEVER TASTE LIKE MUM’S
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:35 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Yep. That’s the plan. ;-)
on October 12, 2012 at 8:11 am Suelle

These look so innocent! Just an ordinary chocolate cookie – until you look closer and see the great big chocolate chunks, and read the recipe to see the quality of chocolate used! Delicious, I’m sure
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:35 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Suelle, they were very decadent! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 10:03 am lambsearsandhoney

Do your boys realise that the rest of the world doesn’t eat like this? My kids think everyone has imported Dutch cocoa in their pantry and whine if I make them bake with the cheap cocoa and the cheap choc chips. I don’t know how they are going to afford their champagne tastes when they leave home.
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:36 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, we’re raising discerning palates. :D
on October 12, 2012 at 11:35 am ceciliag

Oh celia, these are one of the few cookies that i absolutely adore, i must try this recipe! c
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:36 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Celi! They’re fun to make too! :)
  - on October 13, 2012 at 11:07 am cecilia
    
    I shall have to start gathering ingredients.. c
on October 12, 2012 at 1:58 pm helle's kitchen

Celia, they look so delicious.
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:36 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you! :) I wish I could share more than just the photos with all of you!
on October 12, 2012 at 4:18 pm Claire @ Claire K Creations

Oh my Celia, I just had my afternoon cup of tea and one of these would have been quite a treat. Yum!
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:37 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, you’ve had amazing baked things in your kitchen – I’m so glad you’re always IGing them for us! :)
on October 12, 2012 at 4:40 pm Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

Oh my goodness those look ALIVE with chocolatey goodness !
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:38 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Maureen – they did have a lot of chocolate in them.. ;-)
on October 12, 2012 at 7:02 pm Jo Smith

Yum yum yum. Only problem is there’s never any left over chocolate in my kitchen to use up.
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:38 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  You need to live closer, Jo. There’s always chocolate here!
on October 13, 2012 at 6:02 am cityhippyfarmgirl

I can definitely see why they would have gone in a flash Celia… whoosh!!
- on October 13, 2012 at 7:39 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  They even found the ones I’d hidden, Brydie! :)
on October 13, 2012 at 8:01 am bakecakecrumbs

They look fabulous, such a lovely rich dark colour. I’m not surprised your boys have asked for a remake already.
- on October 16, 2012 at 6:24 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Caroline! I was surprised how popular they were! :)
on October 13, 2012 at 10:34 am Norma Chang

I am in agreement with rozmacallan, these would make wonderful ice cream sandwiches. I would use chocolate ice cream of course.
- on October 16, 2012 at 6:24 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  My Pete would love that! :)
on October 15, 2012 at 2:25 am Sophie33

Waw, Celia! Those cookies look freaking delicious!! I love your home-made vanilla extract too! I always make it according to your tasty vanilla recipe! :)
MMMMM! Good food!
- on October 16, 2012 at 6:05 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Sophie! I don’t know where we’d be without our vanilla extract – we can’t use the bought stuff anymore! :)
on October 15, 2012 at 3:06 pm Soy

Wow, these look amazing! While sampling some store bought cookies, I was just saying how nothing beats home made cookies. Will definate try this one, thanks for sharing the recipe
- on October 16, 2012 at 5:58 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Hope you enjoy it! The boys really liked this one! :)
on November 16, 2012 at 9:10 am Liisa

Desperate for biscuit inspiration today. My regular recipes were not cutting it. Thanks for this one. Can’t wait the lads to come home and devour them.