Could You Fit Anything Else in There!?
I picked up Amanda Hesser’s book Cooking for Mr. Latte after the holidays at the Harvard Book Store. I honestly had no idea who she was. In reality I thought that it was a new book since it was marked as a staff pick. Later in the evening Google revealed the truth to me. It seems Hesser writes for The New York Times and that her book actually came out in 2004. Apparently, she’s a fairly famous foodie in her own right, albeit at times a controversial one.
In the end I really enjoyed my selection. The short story format was fast paced and I loved how each chapter ended with an array of delicious recipes to try at home. I found myself dogearing page after page while reading on the T, which is a total sin and completely against my usual book etiquette but I didn’t want to forget to try anything. Those folded tabs have since been replaced by colorful mini post-its so you can all relax now.
It was difficult but I finally chose something simple to test. A cookie recipe with an obscene amount of chocolate — two entire bags to be exact (although Hesser used chocolate bars). When I told my cousin and her fiancé what kind of cookies they were eating the response was, “Wow…could you fit anything else in there!?”
 Toast the Pecans |
 Mix the Batter |
 Chop, Chop, Chop |
 Fold |
 Scoop |
 Cool |
Chocolate Chip, Toasted Pecan, Coconut Cookies (Inspired by Amanda Hesser’s recipe in Cooking for Mr. Latte)
Makes 4 dozen large cookies
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of sea salt
24 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups toasted chopped pecans
1 cup shredded coconut
Preheat the oven to 325°F
In a mixer cream the butter and sugars until fluffy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until smooth.
In a small bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the mixer, beating on low until blended.
Pour in the chocolate, pecans, and coconut. Fold them in by hand with a spatula.
Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
Using an ice cream scoop, drop the dough onto a well greased baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly browned on the edges and cooked in the center. Cool on a rack.
20 Comments Leave a Comment
Holly
January 22, 2008
Holy crap. Between these and the nutella cupcakes someone really IS going to have a HAPPY PERIOD this month!! Imagine me all fat and happy.
erin*carly
January 22, 2008
ooooh, coconut sounds like such a good compliment to the chocolate and pecans! these remind me of the oatmeal cookie i’ve made a few times with pecans, chocolate, and heath toffee. yum yum.
kat
January 22, 2008
mmm yummy! speaking of nutella, i’ve been meaning to make these nutella calzones i saw on giada once.
i remmeber reading of amanda in julie and julia (did you know this is going to be a movie?) and am curious about all the controvery that surrounds her!
Laura
January 22, 2008
Yummm, I need to make these . . to make up for my bad cookie baking experience last weekend.
Erin
January 22, 2008
those look A MAZ ING!
Nix
January 23, 2008
These sound so good! I just happen to have the day off tomorrow! Guess who is making cookies!
Miss Scarlett
January 24, 2008
Hmmm…these might be the answer to my question, “What should I take to my friend’s Super Bowl party??” Love that the pecans are toasted first. YUM!
chiffOnade
January 24, 2008
This recipe is definitely overkill. As a PROFESSIONAL CHEF with a Master’s Certification as a PASTRY CHEF (graduate of Peter Kump’s Culinary School), I would never mix so many ingredients into my cookie.
brilynn
January 24, 2008
I love cookies that are packed full of stuff, these sound great to me!
JEP
January 24, 2008
Now that is my kind of cookie!!
emma
January 24, 2008
i love that book!
megan
January 24, 2008
These look awesome. I love coconut and I love chocolate chip cookies. Sounds like a marriage made in heaven!
Kevin
January 24, 2008
Those cookies look so good. I like the addition of the coconut and pecans to a chocolate chip cookie.
Rob @ I Love Substance
January 25, 2008
I keep coming back to these. I need to make them this weekend.
Did you make this recipe just for me because you know I would love it?
Jennifer
January 26, 2008
Wow! These have got to be delicious!
jessie
January 28, 2008
I looove Cooking For Mr. Latte–such a fun read. These cookies look phenomenal. They make me drool.
sappy
March 1, 2008
Absolutely wonderful. Just what I need.
Ashley
June 3, 2008
Yum those look good. I wish I could have one right now! I love stuffing lots of things into cookies.
Cookie Monster
June 13, 2008
These cookies are amazing! Thanks for making another batch for us Compete folks. We were spoiled with your cooking skills and Chris’s generosity handing out the goodies, both will be missed.
Al
June 13, 2008
OK,
I just had one of these cookies - absolutely mood altering!
What a great combination of flavors - they are the best.
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