Cookies good enough to bring world peace

I love to cook, and desserts are my not-so-secret indulgence, but I’ve never thought of myself as a baker, especially when it comes to cookies.

After more than three decades of teaching, my culinary files do not overflow with cookie recipes. Consequently, whenever the holiday baking season comes around, I scour new cookbooks for delectable creations.

This year I didn’t have to look far. My friend and fellow Francophile, Dorie Greenspan, completed work on “Baking: From My Kitchen to Yours” (Houghton Mifflin), and within the pages of this large, scrumptious collection, were enough cookie ideas (among many other confections) to satisfy my needs for years to come.

As a chocoholic, I zeroed in on the world peace cookies, which are aptly described as “butter-rich, sandy-textured, slice-and-bake cookies.” They were adapted from the celebrated French pastry chef Pierre Herme, but are simple enough for a home cook to master.

There’s a double dose of chocolate in the dough cocoa powder and coarsely chopped bits of bittersweet bars, but the secret ingredient is a generous seasoning of fleur de sel, a coarse sea salt, that intensifies the chocolate flavor.

I’ve made three batches of these cookies already and found that they are perfect for entertaining.

They made a fine accompaniment to a fresh fruit dessert at a small dinner my husband and I gave recently. On another occasion, I packed them into a basket and took them to a potluck supper, and when a friend stopped by unexpectedly (as they do during this season), I offered them with tea.

I’m also planning to stack these treats in cellophane bags tied with colorful ribbons and give them as hostess gifts to those who entertain us during the next few weeks.

World peace cookies were named by a neighbor of the author who believes that a daily dose of these sweet morsels are the best route to ensure planetary calm. I’m certain these chocolate delicacies could serve a diplomatic role, but for me, they are just what I’m looking for in a holiday cookie — easy to make, freezable and indulgent.

World peace cookies

Adapted from “Baking: From My Home to Yours” by Dorie Greenspan.

11/4 cups flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 stick plus 3 tablespoons (11 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature

Story Continues →