Saturday, February 15, 2025

Favorite Cocoa Powders, An Old (Exceptional) Cookie Updated/Simplified, A Simple Valentine's Day Menu & More

Hello, Friends.

About this time last year, I went on a quest to make shiny-topped brownies. Many of you offered your tips and tricks, all of which I shared in the post, but in sum I learned that the mixing method really matters as does the material of the pan.

These various experiments also led me down a rabbit hole regarding lead levels in various cocoa powders, which led many of you to share your favorite brands. Here are a few you shared:

Cacao Barry Extra Brute
Navitas
Viva Naturals Organic Cocoa
Fry's
Rodelle

I bought them all, and I am slowly but surely making a dent in my supply. This week I used the Cacao Barry Extra Brute in an old favorite cookie recipe, and they turned out beautifully (see below...truly these cookies are so, so good and easy, too). I've shared a few of my other favorite cocoa powder recipes below.

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day, and if you're still celebrating this weekend, I've shared a simple menu below 💕💕

Fudgy, Shiny Brownies

Review of the Week

A plated turkey burger aside some lettuce, bun spread with raita.

Miraculously Delicious Turkey Burgers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Made this recipe tonight and it was a huge hit! Who knew turkey could be so flavorful and delicious? I would not tweak a darn thing. Followed your recipe and pan-fried them in my Hexclad pan. Thank you for yet another great recipe!"

— Jennie

A Festive Valentine's Day Menu:

Insanely Delicious Whipped Ricotta with...

A platter of whipped ricotta with honey, olive oil, and pistachios.

Focaccia... you can make the quick version if you haven't planned ahead.

Caesar Salad

Ina Garten's Vodka Sauce with Bucatini

A bowl of bucatini tossed in Ina Gartens vodka sauce.

Stovetop, 60-Minute Pot de Creme

Overhead shot of pots de creme on a board aside a spoon.

5 More Recipes to Make with Your Cocoa Powder

Chewy Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Gourmet's Double Chocolate Cake (half recipe can be found here.)

A slice of double chocolate cake with black velvet icing on a napkin.

Beatty's Chocolate Cake via Ina Garten (this is the only chocolate cake my sister makes)

This chocolate cake, made with buttermilk and oil — no butter — and exclusively cocoa — no melted chocolate — is incredibly light and moist and stays this way — tasting freshly baked — for days. It's another Ina Garten recipe, one she begged for from a friend, the grandson of Beatty, after taking one bite. // alexandracooks.com

One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

Mollie Katzen's Chocolate Eclipse

Chocolate Eclipse is a pudding cake that feeds a crowd. In the oven, the pudding layer sinks to the bottom and the cake rises to the top, emerging with a surface dimpled with deep fudgy craters. When inverted into serving bowls, the built-in fudge sauce becomes the topping, and while a scoop of vanilla ice cream would make for an ultimate experience, this pudding cake is utterly delicious on its own. // alexandracooks.com

PS: For the white chocolate lover in your life: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Just-baked white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.

In Case You Missed It:

Simple Baked Pasta

How to Save Recipes:

How to Save Recipes

Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies

In Friday's pizza newsletter, I revisited an old favorite recipe, turning it into a one-bowl, melted-butter job. This recipe is on the blog, but if you want to get the details, find them here:

Pizza Every Friday