Little Masterpieces: Flourless Chocolate Brownie Cookies

I hope everyone is enjoying the start to the long weekend.  Maybe you've already baked Easter bread and coloured eggs with the kidlets.  Luckily, I had the day off too.  It started off perfectly, with a couple of hot cross buns from a great new bakery in town called The Night Oven.  Slathered with butter and enjoyed alongside a strong brew, it was just what I needed on this cold and yet another snowy day.  The rest of the hours have been seen productivity kick procrastination's ass and what do you know, I submitted articles, sorted out tax stuff (note to self - get more organized already), tackled the pile of laundry and even have a pot of soup on the stove, currently bubbling away.  I have no idea how it will turn out - mostly just cleaned out the contents of the fridge, so cross your fingers.  I was just going to cozy up on the couch with the fur babes and my busting PVR, but I had to tell you about these cookies.  Guilt would have consumed me if I didn't share.  And I know a few of you like cookies just as much as I do. 

Fudgy and chewy, flourless and gluten free, these cookies are melt in your mouth little masterpieces.  The batter comes together super quick, and word up, it's quite goopy.   You might have to lick your fingers, which would be a shame, wouldn't it?  They also spread quite a bit, so watch the spacing.  I was also a little zealous with my heaping spoonfuls.  No matter.  If you need a treat for someone not eating gluten, this is a good recipe to have in your back pocket.  I loved them more the day I baked them than the second day, but given how good they are, I've no doubt they'll be hanging around your kitchen long. 

After they came out of the oven, I stole a few minutes to read, something I don't do nearly enough of.  I can't tell you how many nights I have good intentions of diving in and reading more than 5 pages, but more often than not I wake up hours later, with the glasses on, the light on, and generally discombobulated.  It really isn't pretty.  But this book.  I'm grateful it's taken me more than a month to get through it, because ever page is written so beautifully.  This woman is my new hero.  Grab a copy if you can.  With that, I should run and finish the soup and change the laundry and feed the meowing cats poking at my legs.  Claws I tell you.  Claws.  Hopefully you have a little time for yourself this weekend, maybe steal away a few cookies and find a corner to read in, if only for a few moments.  Happy weekend! 

Flourless Chocolate Brownie Cookies

3 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
2 large egg whites
1 large egg
4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 Tbsp cacao nibs

Place racks in lower and upper thirds of oven.  Preheat to 350*F.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, sift together the icing sugar, cocoa and salt.  Using the paddle attachment, beat in the whites and whole egg, chocolate and cacao nibs until smooth and uniform.  Drop by tablespoons onto parchment lined baking sheets, spacing cookies 2 inches apart.  Bake, rotating once until cookies are puffed and set, about 14 minutes.  Transfer baking sheets to wire racks and let cookies cool completely.  Makes about 2 dozen.  Recipe from Bon Appetit, January 2014.