Rose Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies
from my cookbook, Wild Sweetness (© 2021 Harper Design)
makes sixteen to twenty cookies
2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2/3 cup (1 ¼ sticks + 1 teaspoon; 150 g) unsalted butter, chopped
¾ cup + 1 teaspoon (170 g) light brown sugar
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon rosewater (or less, to taste and strength)
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 cup (170 g) coarsely chopped dark chocolate
½ cup (70 g) chopped walnuts
Fleur de sel, for finishing
Rose petals, optional
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Put the butter into a medium-size saucepan set over medium-low heat. Heat, stirring often, until melted. Pour into a large bowl then add in the sugars and whisk until combined. Whisk in the egg, followed by the rosewater and vanilla. Tip in the dry ingredients. Beat with a wooden spoon until a soft dough has just begun to form, then mix in the chocolate and walnuts. Cover and chill until firm, 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, set racks in the lower and upper thirds of an oven. Preheat to 350F (180C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Using a scoop or tablespoon as a measure, portion out evenly sized amounts of the dough. If you’re using a spoon, use your hands to roll them into balls. Divide between the prepared sheets, placing them a few inches apart for spreading. You should be able to fit 8 to 10 per sheet. Sprinkle with a little fleur de sel. You can set leftover dough balls aside to be baked off later, or, store in an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Allow to stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes before baking from frozen.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the sheets between the upper and lower third of the oven halfway through, until golden, the edges crisp, but the centers still soft. Let the cookies stand on the sheets for a few minutes, before transferring them onto a wire rack to cool further, before serving.
