Jan 26, 2009
8
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Mexican Chocolate Icebox Cookies

At brunch at the Liberty Bar in San Antonio, a plate of these spicy-sweet cookies is set down on the table at the beginning of the meal—gratis.
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Mexican Chocolate Icebox Cookies Credit: Kenny Braun

1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup quality dutch-process
   unsweetened cocoa
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2–3/4 tsp. cayenne
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
12 tbsp. cold unsalted butter,
   cut into small pieces

1. Whisk flour, cocoa, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl and set aside.

2. Put sugar, vanilla, and egg into a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Add butter and continue to beat on high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes more. Using your fingers, work flour mixture into butter mixture until dough is just combined.

3. Divide dough in half and roll each half into a 9" log. Wrap each log in parchment paper, twisting ends tightly to make a uniform cylinder. Freeze dough logs for at least 8 hours and as long as overnight.

4. Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap dough and slice each log into rounds about 1/3" thick. Place rounds 1/2" apart on parchment paper–lined cookie sheets. Bake cookies until slightly puffed and tiny cracks appear on surface, about 8 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to let cool.

MAKES ABOUT 4 DOZEN

Mexican Chocolate Icebox Cookies

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #81

Ratings & Reviews (8)

I thought they were quite good and the cayenne gave them a surprising bite. I made them as a holiday cookie several years ago and they got good reviews from most recipients.
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but I think there's a mistake--I think the flour number is a little low. I crosschecked a few other recipes, and I think maybe it's supposed to be 1 and 1/2 c of flour.
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Double-checked my old issue: the recipe does indeed call for a 1/2 cup of flour--love these cookies!
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the cookies are outstanding. its 1.5 cups flour not 0.5 cup flour.
I've made these a couple of times now. The flour ratio is CORRECT. I most recently made these for a Mexican themed party with over 40 guests. They were a hit! I had requests for the recipe over and over.

The only thing negative I can say is - they are a bit of a pain to make, fuss wise. The dough is very sticky, but tastes awesome, in case you were interested. And unless I was making teeny weeny cookies, there is no way you will get 48 cookies out of the recipe. BUT, that said - they are awesome. Do try.
I've made these a couple of times now. The flour ratio is CORRECT. I most recently made these for a Mexican themed party with over 40 guests. They were a hit! I had requests for the recipe over and over.

The only thing negative I can say is - they are a bit of a pain to make, fuss wise. The dough is very sticky, but tastes awesome, in case you were interested. And unless I was making teeny weeny cookies, there is no way you will get 48 cookies out of the recipe. BUT, that said - they are awesome. Do try.
noAvatar
Maybe that's why the recipe doesn't make 48 cookies, and the reason the dough is sticky. I made them with 1-1/2 cups flour the outcome was "48" cookies and "No" sticky dough!
noAvatar
so which amount is it, 1/2 cup or 1 and 1/2 cup of flour?!?!
Mexican Chocolate Icebox Cookies 4 5 6 8

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