Dec 8, 2011

Mocha Chocolate Shortbread

When there's happiness to be shared, it should always be accompanied by chocolate. Is that not true?

So, here I'am sharing happiness with all of you again. And that does come with chocolate too. There are many reasons to be thankful and happy - and my biggest reason now is that my little girl is here - she was born the first week in November. And yes, when the say a baby changes life, its all true. Now I have two little girls to spoil - and oh yes a lot more girly shopping that I can indulge in!

Another big reason to be thankful and happy is that my blog turns 3 today! My heartfelt thanks to all of you for being a part of the blog. Thanks for all your wonderful and supportive feedback even though I've not been very active the last couple of months.

Here's a super easy shortbread recipe - a favorite of mine from the Southern Living magazine archives. If you have an IPad - download the Southern Living My Recipes app - it provides a beautiful dessert recipe for every day of the year and some more. The app costs about 4 bucks but its all worth it if you enjoy baking or just looking at pretty pictures.

Here the link to the original recipe - Mocha Chocolate Shortbread from Southern Living 


Get all your ingredients in place.

1 1/4 cup of All purpose flour
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
2 tsps of Instant coffee granules ( I used taster's choice)
2/3 cup of softened butter
2 cups of semi - sweet chocolate chip morsels
2 tsps vanilla extract - the recipe calls for it - but I was all out and just skipped using it. Trust me, I did not miss it

The great thing about this recipe is that it is an eggless recipe as well and takes about 5 mins to prepare. You can make this as a quick dessert when you have friends over for an impromptu dinner.



To a mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar and instant coffee crystals.



Add the butter and vanilla extract and mix well in slow speed. It is very important that the butter is softened and not completely melted in order to get the crisp texture of the shortbread.



And this is how the dough looks once mixed well.


Now add 1 cup of the semi sweet chocolate chips to the dough and mix well using a spatula.



Spread out the dough in an ungreased 9 inch square pan.



Using a fork, poke in a few times to aerate the surface.


Bake in a pre heated oven at 325F for about 20 mins until the top gets a little brown.



Switch off the oven and immediately add the remaining 1 cup of semi sweet morsels. I added a few more of milk chocolate morsels ( because two little hands and a mouth ate some of my semi sweet chips in the pretext of helping me in the kitchen!)

In a couple of mins, the chocolate chips would be melted. Spread it around with a spatula and make an even coating of chocolate on top of the shortbread.


Can I just dive in here and swim??


Cut the shortbread into little pieces while its still warm. Then let it cool for about 30 mins to an hr. That's the hardest part of the whole process.


Obviously I could wait - who has 30 mins, right?? These were just oh so melt in your mouth good. Glad I did not wait...all the wet chocolate is worth the warm shortbread..if you know what I mean..just go ahead and indulge. 

Since the theme for A Sweet Punch Series this month was anything that we'd like to bake, I'm sending this across there as well. 


Enjoy. Peace Out!

And Thank You for making 3 years of blogging so much fun!

23 comments:

  1. Congrats on the milestone Any. The shortbread looks super tempting with the chocolate in it. Hope the girls are doing great!

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  2. Congrats dear..:)) I can imagine the excitement..:) God bless both your angels and your family..
    Chocolate shortbread looks super good ..:)
    Reva

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  3. congratulations dear... God bless u and ur angels...
    Chocolate shortbread looks yummy...

    Joyeeta

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  4. Congos for the fun filled three years. The short breads look scrummy yummy...awesome pictures.

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  5. Hearty Congratulation on 3rd bloggie anniversary Anu. How wonderful to celebrate it with an indulgent chocolate shortbread :-)

    Cheers to many more,
    Siri

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  6. Congrats Anu, enjoy dear..Shortbread looks absolutely sinful and irresistible.

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  7. congratulations on completing 3 years of blogging !! and that heavenly slice is all i need at the moment - easy recipe and lovely pics to go with it too :)

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  8. Happy blogging and congrats on ur achievement. An irresistible cake as well

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  9. Congrats Anu!! So happy for you! Sisterhood is a great joy and I'm so glad your kids will get to enjoy it!

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  10. Yummmyyy... very very tempting... I am a choco addict.. and I cant stop drooling over the pics :-)
    And Happy Blog Anniversary!!

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  11. Happy blog Anniversary..I enjoyed ur blog from the day i saw it...Shortbreads luks so yummy..

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  12. Yummy, what a great looking shortbread.

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  13. Congrats on becoming a mom of yet another baby girl and congrats on your blog anniversary.Shortbread looks so tempting.

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  14. Congratulations, Anu! Missed your posts and wondered what had happened..but this is wonderful news! Girls are so much fun..wishing you lots of girly fun and many more years of blogging!

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  15. Congrats dear, enjoy dear..Shortbread looks absolutely sinful and irresistible.

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  16. Congrats!! for ur milestone and for the new arrival. Shortbread looks yum too............

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  17. Congratulations!!! Explains your absence,being an ardent fan of your blog I was quite disappointed as well annoyed not seeing a post from you!
    Hope you continue blogging and expecting some post delivery food recipes from you :-)

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  18. Hi Anu,

    I Was looking for a paneer recipe and found your blog. I am so impressed with your passion for cooking. I appreciate your patience in taking pictures and posting each recipe step by step. I am a fan of your blog.

    Congrats!! Enjoy time with your baby girl.

    Sandhya

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  19. anu! this looks scandalously delicious and i can imagine how awesome it must've tasted. send pics of your full happy family na? :)

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  20. Brilliant recipe....We look forward to more posts from you...Good wishes for the anniversary and for the little girls...Regards/Anita

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  21. Congratulations on the milestone and for the new arrival dear! Enjoy the time with yr angels :-)

    Those chocolatey shortbread looks marvellous and I am so with you, the waiting time is just too annoying :-)

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  22. wow..this shortbread looks scrumptious :-)

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  23. Ok I have no clue how I missed out two posts from you! They are not even figuring on my reader! Many congratulations da for the 3`rd anniversary of your blog...and also for he little one@! Whats her name and where are the pics??? Send me sme now!

    Love, Shobhz

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