There are few desserts that I can think of that cause as much debate as the proper texture for a chocolate chip cookie. Some like them chewy, others like them crunchy while there's another camp that prefers a more cake-like texture. I've always been on the fence, loving the crisp caramelized snap of a good crunchy cookie while feeling equally partial to the soft and chewy cookie more reminiscent of the dough before it's been cooked. And if you're a dunker like me, you probably also appreciate the cakier cookies for their ability to soak up milk like a sponge for a cool creamy mouthful of sweet heaven. I decided to jump into the debate and possibly upset both sides with this recipe for Hot and Spicy Chocolate Chip Cookies.
So why have these chocolate chip cookie factions always been mutually exclusive? Is it not possible to have a cookie that suits everyone? These were some questions I started asking myself as I set out to make my first batch of cookies in over 4 years. I started with the basic recipe I learned from my mom as a kid. Then, I reduced the amount of flour (her's is very cakey), increased the amount of sugar (to make it more chewy and to increase crispness), and finally played with the baking times with each tray.
By using a balanced dough (between flour, sugar and butter), I was able to get different textured cookies based on the amount of time they were cooked for. At 12 minutes the edges were slightly cakey while the centers were chewy and slightly gooey. At 16 minutes the cookies were cooked all the way through with crunchy edges and a crumbly center. 14 minutes turned out to be the magic number for my oven, producing cookies with a nice snap at the edges, a layer with a slightly cakey crumb on top, and a dense chewy bottom. But why stop there? Can't a chocolate chip cookie incite more than just a texture debate? I was determined to take this debate to another level with my Hot and Spicy Chocolate Chip Cookies.
In the flavor department, I'm a big fan of rustic Mexican chocolate, which is often infused with spices such as cinnamon and chili peppers. It also tends to be much more coarse than European chocolates due to the lack of conching. I wanted to introduce some of this into these cookies, but since Mexican chocolate can be hard to find, I added the spices to the dough instead. The heat really punctuates the earthy chocolate and brown sugar, making you pause for a moment while you figure out what's different about this cookie.
While I recommend the combo, if spicy chocolate chip cookies aren't your thing, try adding some peppermint oil to the dough, or replacing some of the sugar with raspberry jam. While experimentation in baking is often frowned upon, cookies are pretty forgiving and a great opportunity to try your hand at something a little different. The next time you bring cookies to a gathering, why not stir some delicious debate with a plate of Hot and Spicy Chocolate Chip Cookies?
📖 Recipe
Units
Ingredients
- 170 grams cultured unsalted butter 12 tablespoons at room temperature
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar packed
- ½ cup evaporated cane sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups bittersweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 325 F (160 C) degrees.
- Cream the butter and 2 kinds of sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix till combined after each addition. Add the vanilla, cinnamon and cayenne pepper, mixing until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together. Add it to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Add the chocolate chips and stir in by hand.
- Scoop roughly ¼ cup of batter for each cookie onto a baking sheet (it's okay if the balls are jagged) leaving enough room for them to spread. Bake 1 sheet at a time for about 12-15 minutes each or until the edges are set, but the middle is still soft. You may need to experiment with your oven to figure out the perfect cooking time. As these cookies bake, they go from chewy to cakey to crisp, so you can change their characteristic by the amount of time you bake them for.
- To get the chewy center, allow them to cool on the pan (not on a rack).
Ehlana says
Hi, one question: the ingredients are given in metric measures but the oven temperature of 325 degrees is far higher than my ovens measure to. Is it degrees fahrenheit? That would be about 160 degrees celsius, which sounds more reasonable for biscuits.
Perhaps the recipe could be updated to clarify this?
Marc Matsumoto says
Hi Ehlana, sorry about that, this is a very old recipe, and the ingredients were automatically converted to metric at some point, but unfortunately the instructions were not converted. I've updated. Thanks for pointing this out. Also, you should know that the cup measurements are US cups, not metric cups.
Marc Matsumoto says
Glad to hear you're enjoying them. Good luck with the ramen!
lovesirbecky says
I have made these cookies maybe 8 times now...? And myself and my family can't get enough of them! I love putting 'Andes peppermint crunch baking chips' in them with white chocolate chips as they make a great combination and go with the cayenne pepper surprisingly well. Thank you for posting so many amazing recipes, my next goal is to make the chicken stock for tomorrow nights ramen!
Thanks,
From Emily.
Susie Anne says
chili and chocolate...excellent combination, something new to the taste buds.
Susie Anne says
chili and chocolate...excellent combination, something new to the taste buds.
Catie_cohen130 says
they were a hit! that says a lot since my family considers themselves cookie connoisseurs 🙂
bribri says
umn no..i wanna know if ii could make em with out it ruining the shape or order of the way they turn out besides the taste~~~~~~~~~!!!!
amelia says
wonderful: a grown-up, spiked up, version of a classic!
amelia says
wonderful: a grown-up, spiked up, version of a classic!
Kevin (Closet Cooking) says
I like the sound of spiced ccc's.
Kevin (Closet Cooking) says
I like the sound of spiced ccc's.
Marc Matsumoto says
Yea, you definitely taste it. A lot of mexican hot chocolate recipes call for such a small amount that it's not even noticible which seems to defeat the purpose for me, but you can change the amount to suit your tastes.
Marc Matsumoto says
Wow peanut butter cayenne cookies is unusual. Kind of makes me think of Thai food. I bet they were great!
Marc Matsumoto says
I have to say I'm not a big fan of gingerbread personally, but I could see how cayenne pepper would work well with gingerbread:-)
Butterball says
Love the tips for chewey, crunchy, etc. Being the moody type I change with the wind on which way to go.
Butterball says
Love the tips for chewey, crunchy, etc. Being the moody type I change with the wind on which way to go.
Jen says
Sweet & spicy, I likey! I also like the peppermint oil suggestion.
I'm actually working on a Mexican chocolate post---great minds cook alike 🙂
Gera says
I'm big fan of choco cookies...really addicted...the new hot-spicy-cayenne dimension is gorgeous to eat!
Marc a perfect and delicious inspiration 🙂
Cheers!
Gera
Natasha aka 5 Star Foodie says
Brilliant idea! Love the spicy. I will definitely have to make these for my husband.
Jen says
Sweet & spicy, I likey! I also like the peppermint oil suggestion.
I'm actually working on a Mexican chocolate post---great minds cook alike 🙂
Daily Spud says
Well, *somebody* has to experiment with baking, don't they? Otherwise we'd never find out about new and interesting combinations and textures 🙂 - and I love your description of the different textural stages of your cookies.
I reckon I would like your spice combination. I put cayenne in the gingerbread I made before Christmas - it was a teeny little experiment for me, and I loved it. Of course I later discovered that people have been doing this for centuries (if the recipe for gingerbread from Mrs. Beeton's 1859 book is anything to go by)!
Shelby Ruttan says
Great recipe! Love the added heat!
Nuria says
That is Patience Marc! This is how you finally achieve perfection, isn't it? Trying and trying... I love the combo of chocolate and spices you made 😀
I've never baked cookies... I'm keeping your recipe!
Jessie says
great cookies! I've had peanut butter cookies with cayenne pepper in them. It was very different and interesting but I actually found myself enjoying it!
Gera says
I'm big fan of choco cookies...really addicted...the new hot-spicy-cayenne dimension is gorgeous to eat!
Marc a perfect and delicious inspiration 🙂
Cheers!
Gera
lisaiscooking says
I think I'm in the thin and crunchy camp, but I'm fickle with cookie preferences! The cayenne addition sounds great.
Jessie says
Oh, love, love, love the combination of chocolate with chili! Well done! 😀
+Jessie
a.k.a. The Hungry Mouse
Natasha aka 5 Star Foodie says
Brilliant idea! Love the spicy. I will definitely have to make these for my husband.
Christie @ fig&cherry says
Mmmm, love chilli and chocolate. Cayenne pepper would be just right with the dark choc chunks.
Daily Spud says
Well, *somebody* has to experiment with baking, don't they? Otherwise we'd never find out about new and interesting combinations and textures 🙂 - and I love your description of the different textural stages of your cookies.
I reckon I would like your spice combination. I put cayenne in the gingerbread I made before Christmas - it was a teeny little experiment for me, and I loved it. Of course I later discovered that people have been doing this for centuries (if the recipe for gingerbread from Mrs. Beeton's 1859 book is anything to go by)!
Shelby Ruttan says
Great recipe! Love the added heat!
Nuria says
That is Patience Marc! This is how you finally achieve perfection, isn't it? Trying and trying... I love the combo of chocolate and spices you made 😀
I've never baked cookies... I'm keeping your recipe!
Jessie says
great cookies! I've had peanut butter cookies with cayenne pepper in them. It was very different and interesting but I actually found myself enjoying it!
lisaiscooking says
I think I'm in the thin and crunchy camp, but I'm fickle with cookie preferences! The cayenne addition sounds great.
Jessie says
Oh, love, love, love the combination of chocolate with chili! Well done! 😀
+Jessie
a.k.a. The Hungry Mouse
pigpigscorner says
I love mine thick and chewy. I'm dying to try out choc and chili combo now...
Christie @ fig&cherry says
Mmmm, love chilli and chocolate. Cayenne pepper would be just right with the dark choc chunks.
Elra says
Wow, that's a lot of cayenne pepper Marc. But then I know that chocolate is actually taste good with chili. So I can imagine how good this cookies must be.
Cheers,
Elra
pigpigscorner says
I love mine thick and chewy. I'm dying to try out choc and chili combo now...
Peter says
The beauty of chocolate chip cookies is that there's always room for improvement. They are forgiving and no one ever chucked a batch unless burnt. I think the cayenne w/ chocolate with be a great sensation.
Selba says
I love chocolate chips cookies especially those chewy ones.
Elra says
Wow, that's a lot of cayenne pepper Marc. But then I know that chocolate is actually taste good with chili. So I can imagine how good this cookies must be.
Cheers,
Elra
Hayley says
Adding cinnamon to chocolate chip cookie batter has always been one of my favorite tricks. It does amazing things to the flavor. I'll have to try the cayenne pepper, too. Thanks for sharing!
Jessica says
I am chewy all the way! Mexican chocolate in cookies sounds like a great idea. I am all for your experiments in baking - they seem to turn out perfectly!
Carolyn Jung says
Oooh, cayenne, huh? That'll jump-start taste buds for sure. Thanks for such a useful -- and well conceived -- cookie recipe.
manggy says
While I am firmly in the soft and chewy camp, if you knew me even a little bit you'd know that I'd devour everything anyway 😉 And now you know I can't refuse anything with cayenne pepper in it!
Peter says
The beauty of chocolate chip cookies is that there's always room for improvement. They are forgiving and no one ever chucked a batch unless burnt. I think the cayenne w/ chocolate with be a great sensation.
Selba says
I love chocolate chips cookies especially those chewy ones.
Peter G says
Great idea adding the cayenne in Marc! I too enjoy different type of cookies for all the reasons you listed.
The Duo Dishes says
When you get a perfect cookie, you want to sing it on a mountaintop! Please warm up your voice and proclaim these to be awesome.
Jenni Field says
I love your spirit of adventure. Yes, there's a lot of chemistry in baking, but you're right--they're cookies. And a little healthy experimentation never hurt anyone 🙂 I love to add a pinch of cayenne and cinnamon to my hot chocolate. Same idea--a nod to the Mayan gods, I guess!
Nick says
Man, just the description of the dough was getting me hungry. I'd love to play around with cookie recipes but I don't want to eat 400 cookies!
Hayley says
Adding cinnamon to chocolate chip cookie batter has always been one of my favorite tricks. It does amazing things to the flavor. I'll have to try the cayenne pepper, too. Thanks for sharing!
helen says
I think I'll be taking my cookies out of the oven at the 12 minute mark. I'm quite fond of underbaked pastries.
Jennifer says
I never would have thought about putting those spices in, that sounds really cool!
I have three kids and I bake cookies pretty much every week, but I have one that likes chewy, one crunchy and one in the middle. I never thought about taking them out at different times, now I can make everyone happy!
Jessica says
I am chewy all the way! Mexican chocolate in cookies sounds like a great idea. I am all for your experiments in baking - they seem to turn out perfectly!
Carolyn Jung says
Oooh, cayenne, huh? That'll jump-start taste buds for sure. Thanks for such a useful -- and well conceived -- cookie recipe.
manggy says
While I am firmly in the soft and chewy camp, if you knew me even a little bit you'd know that I'd devour everything anyway 😉 And now you know I can't refuse anything with cayenne pepper in it!
Peter G says
Great idea adding the cayenne in Marc! I too enjoy different type of cookies for all the reasons you listed.
The Duo Dishes says
When you get a perfect cookie, you want to sing it on a mountaintop! Please warm up your voice and proclaim these to be awesome.
Jenni Field says
I love your spirit of adventure. Yes, there's a lot of chemistry in baking, but you're right--they're cookies. And a little healthy experimentation never hurt anyone 🙂 I love to add a pinch of cayenne and cinnamon to my hot chocolate. Same idea--a nod to the Mayan gods, I guess!
Nick says
Man, just the description of the dough was getting me hungry. I'd love to play around with cookie recipes but I don't want to eat 400 cookies!
helen says
I think I'll be taking my cookies out of the oven at the 12 minute mark. I'm quite fond of underbaked pastries.
Jennifer says
I never would have thought about putting those spices in, that sounds really cool!
I have three kids and I bake cookies pretty much every week, but I have one that likes chewy, one crunchy and one in the middle. I never thought about taking them out at different times, now I can make everyone happy!