Chocolate Sparkle Cookies, also known as Chocolate Sparkles, are very rich gluten-free chocolate truffle cookies from the great Canadian pastry chef, Thomas Haas. Once proclaimed "the best cookies in the world" by The Vancouver Sun, the recipe has been published in several newspapers in the past decade and shared on food blogs.
Two Versions
There are two versions that I know of. There's this one, which includes honey and a little bit of unsweetened cocoa powder, and another version (featured in The LA Times) that does not have the honey or cocoa powder. Both versions call for a half pound of good quality bittersweet chocolate, butter, sugar, ground almonds, and eggs.
Sparkles Cookie Texture
The cookies should be very soft and fudge-like on the inside, but have a slightly crispy shell. To make the cookies sparkle, I've always used sparkling sugar, but other bakers use confectioners' sugar or granulated. All of the different sugars work well, with the sparkling sugar adding a little more crunch to the shell. Here's a texture shot. This cookie is not as thick as some because I only chilled the dough for an hour.
For the chocolate, you'll want to use a chopped bar or disks. The cookies in this photo were made with Guittard disks. You can also make the cookies with Ghirardelli bittersweet chips. With chips in place of chocolate, the cookies tend to bake up thicker, but with a firmer and not so silky texture (though still good!).
Half Batch Chocolate Sparkle Cookies
4 oz very good quality bittersweet chocolate (114 grams)
1 ½ tablespoons room temperature butter, cut into pieces (21 grams)
1 egg (50 grams)
½ T honey (10 grams)
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar -- plus more for rolling (33 grams)
⅓ c ground almonds or almond flour (42 grams)
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tiny pinch salt
Coarse sugar for garnish
Melt chocolate and butter together on top of a double boiler or just melt in the microwave. If using the microwave, use 50% power and stir every 30 seconds or so. Let cool slightly.
In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat egg, gradually adding the sugar and honey until light & the mixture falls in thick ribbons. Fold into the chocolate-butter mixture. Add the cocoa powder and salt to the ground almonds & mix; gently add to the chocolate mixture.
Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least for several hours.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a small ice cream scoop to form the dough into 1 inch balls (they should weigh about 14 grams each, though mine are usually slightly larger). Working quickly, roll the balls in granulated or sparkling sugar. Place on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake at 325 degrees F for about 12 minutes, until the centres are most, but not wet. Cool slightly. Dust lightly with coarse (sparkly) sugar or you can use confectioners' sugar.
Makes 15 to 30
Recipe
Chocolate Sparkle Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 ounces good quality bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¾ cup almond flour or finely ground almonds
- 2 teaspoons good quality natural or Dutch cocoa powder
- Sparkly or coarse sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl or large Pyrex liquid measuring cup. Add the chocolate to the hot butter and stir until it is almost completely melted. Return mixture to the microwave and heat at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, until completely melted. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer for about 3 minutes. Gradually add the salt, sugar and honey and continue beating for about 3 to 5 more minutes or until the batter is thick and foamy. Fold in the chocolate-butter mixture. Add the cocoa powder to the almond flour and stir that mixture into the chocolate mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours or until thick enough to shape. Scoop up heaping teaspoonfuls and shape into about 30 balls. Put the balls on a tray or plate, cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight. Before baking, roll balls in sparkling sugar.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Arrange sparkly dough balls on a parchment or nonstick foil lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart and bake for 12 minutes or until just set (moist, but not wet). Let cool completely. You should get about 30 pieces.
David says
The version with the honey and cocoa powder is the original. I got a hard copy of it in 2003 when staying at a hotel he was working with in Vancouver.
Lori says
My husband loves these and they are so easy to make and gluten free.
Anna says
Alton, good catch! I have no idea why I put "powdered sugar". It should be coarse sugar.
If you can't find the coarse or sparkly decorating sugar, you *can* use powdered sugar. They won't sparkle, though.
Alton says
The cookie looks like it has regular or sanding sugar on it, but the recipe said dust with powdered sugar which doesnt seem like it would make them sparkling.
Shanon says
Best cookie, easy to make and bake.
Roger says
You know, (almost!) every time I line up at his shop in North Vancouver, he brings out a small batch and treat his customer for a free bite of this cookie.
It is a classic at its best ... but it also have the right balance of sweetness of cookie, fluffy lightness, chocolate flavours, and it will light up a cold Canadian winter if you have to line up outside in the cold because this hot cookie just melts in your mouth!!
A hole in one!
RedQueen says
Anna-I made these earlier this year as a gift for the staff at my chiropractor's office. They were FABULOUS--very dense and one of the chocolatiest cookies I've ever tasted.
Andrea says
The best? I'm listening! :)Will be back to see how they turn out!
s'kat says
I've had this recipe in my to be cooked binder for, oh, a year or so now. I'm on the edge of my seat with anticipation!
Randi says
omg, that is an expensive cookie. I hope they turn out, then i'll bake them.