The Witchery

So, I'm browsing through yet another volume in my ridiculous collection of baking cook books, when I come across a cookie that sounds like it would work for the NH Gathering. Tried it. Liked it. Makes enough. Should freeze and travel well. Only quirk? You really, REALLY need to have a large glass of cold milk standing by. The cookies just beg for it. Course, that means that vanilla ice cream would probably work just as well.

Chocolate Fudge Cookies with Toffee and Dried Cherries

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup toffee bits
(the original recipe also called to 8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped, but I left it out in deference to the Gathering's mandate of "no chocolate chip cookies" - it wasn't missed)

Preheat the oven to 350°. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt together. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the two sugars and the butter until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla. Add the flour mixture in three additions, making sure it is incorporated after each. Stir in the chunky ingredients.

Drop the batter by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake 15-17 minutes, then remove and let cool on rack.

Original recipe comes from In the Sweet Kitchen by Regan Daley: http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Kitchen-Definitive-Bakers-Companion/dp/1579652085/sr=8-1/qid=1170643424/ref=sr_1_1/002-9466019-9004849?ie=UTF8&s=books