Cocker Cookies

Just before Valentine's Day, CSRNE was selling chocolate Cocker Spaniels (the edible kind) to raise funds for the wonderful work they do in rescuing abandoned cocker spaniels. The chocolate cocker candy inspired me to make some special Valentine's Day treats in honor of Riley's 5 month anniversary as my companion.

Giant Cocker Cookies

They turned out just OK in appearance, but really delicious. Using an old fashioned gingerbread cookie recipe my mother had cut out of a newspaper over 50 years ago, I rolled the dough out on the thick side and cut three cocker shapes out to form cookies which measured about 12" x 14".

These were covered in a thick layer of icing made from confectionery sugar, Dutch-Process & Black Cocoa, thinned to the right consistency with some melted Dark Chocolate, browned butter and Cream Sherry. I then added a pinch each of cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, salt and cayenne pepper. The addition of these spices to chocolate concoctions always prompts people to ask what kind of cocoa I use. This is an old Italian "secret ingredient" my grandmother and mother used when making chocolate icing for Italian Chocolate Cookies.

The chocolate and gingerbread combination was a big hit with Riley's groomer, who received one for Valentine's Day...from Riley, of course.