Miche Bacher, owner of Mali B. Sweets and Author of Cooking With Flowers, shares a new exclusive recipe for her Chocolate Pansy Cookies. She explains:
“I was invited to a dinner party one spring eve. Delighted to go to a friend’s home, but in a rush between work and play, I had to pull a proverbial rabbit out of my dessert hat. What could I make in mere moments that was casual but decadent, easy, but had some sophistication? I spied some pansies in my window boxes and started there. Pansies have a subtle mint flavor and I thought adding them to chocolate might be just the ticket. These gluten free cookies are moist and tender but have a crisp outer shell. They are versatile and clock friendly. They keep and travel well. The list of ingredients is short, the batter comes together in no time and the time it takes to bake them leaves time for a quick shower…”
CHOCOLATE PANSY COOKIES
1 3/4 c pansy confectioner’s sugar
1/2 c cocoa powder
2 t rice flour
1/4 t salt
2 egg whites
1/2 c pansies, chopped
1/2 c toasted pecans, chopped (optional)
1/2 c chocolate chunks (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 325*
2. Mix together sugar, cocoa, rice flour, and salt. Add egg whites and stir for three minutes until a dough forms. Use your arm muscles. It looks like there might not be enough moisture, but there is.
3. Add pansies and optional nuts and chocolate chunks.
4. Form dough into 1 inch balls. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for between 15 and 18 minutes until glossy and crackly.
Mali B Sweets is located at 130 Front St Greenport. For more information call 631-477-6762 or visit http://www.malibsweets.com/