Monday, January 7, 2013

Chocolate Latkes - And A Giveaway!



 ''Chocolate is the answer - who really cares what the question is?''

Temptation comes in so many ways - quick, easy, chocolaty, fudgy just to name a few.  And when you put all of these together, temptation is irresistible! All the more so when you are just recovering from the languor of having shopped and traveled for a family wedding and there is a sudden need to bake something quick, easy and good. Alice's Merdich's Chocolate Latkes aka Chocolate Coconut Macaroons are as easy and quick as macaroons can get . If I have understood this right, latkes are basically pancakes which are mostly (but not necessarily) made with shredded potatoes, traditionally eaten during the Jewish festival Hanukkah. Fear not, the latkes here are in no way related to the potato latkes, except in their appearance.

I admit, my latkes here don't look like latkes  - with the long, thin shreds of potato (coconut in this case) making them look so very appealing. Blame it on shredding coconut at home with the safest (and most easily accessible) grater you can lay your hands on. But these are indeed tasty, quite chocolaty, go from your pantry to the oven in no time at all! Crisp-ish exteriors, chewy within, coconut and chocolate flavors in each bite. A burst of dark chocolate here and there add to the chocolatey-ness. Perfect to bake for that emergency need for a chocolaty something! 


 On the side, Cakes And More turns 3 shortly! I am happy to give-away a copy of Alice Medrich's Chocolate Holidays - Desserts For Every Season!

Chocolate answers and cures for winter, spring, summer and fall, some of the very tempting recipes include Chocolate Hazelnut Roulade, Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles, Irish Coffee Chocolate Mousse, The Ultimate Flourless Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Pound Cake, Broadwalk Bananas, Chocolate Pecan Pie, Chocolate Cream Puffs With Spun Sugar and more!


To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment here on or before 17th January midnight India time. The book will be shipped to any address in India. The winner shall be announced shortly...hope you will participate!!

Chocolate Latkes.

Makes about 40 2-inch cookies( I have halved the below recipe)
Ingredients:
  • Egg whites - 4 / 120 grams
  • Sweetened shredded coconut - 3 cups, ( I have used used unsweetened coconut, weight approximately 180 grams, pls read note)
  • Semisweet or bittersweet chocolate - 98 grams / 3 ½ oz , finely chopped ( I have used Morde, dark)
  • Sugar, fine - 12 tbsp / 180 grams approximately - (Recipe uses 6 tablespoons, have added more as the coconut is unsweetened)
  • Pure vanilla extract - 2 tsp
  • Scant ¼ tsp salt
  • Bittersweet chocolate - chopped coarsely - about 1/4 cup (my addition)
Procedure : Center an oven rack and preheat the oven to 180 degrees C / 350F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Set aside.

  • Combine all of the ingredients in a large heatproof mixing bowl, preferably stainless steel (make sure it has high sides to prevent water from the skillet spilling into it). The mixture will just come together and look like wet coconut.  Set the bowl in a skillet of barely simmering water, the heat on low, and stir the mixture, scraping the bottom to prevent burning, until it is sticky and hot to the touch. This will take about 2 minutes or so depending on the kind of bowl you use and the quantity you are making. Just be sure to keep stirring constantly and touch the mixture often. 
  • Scoop rounded tablespoons of the mixture about 1 inch apart on the cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie slightly with a damp finger to resemble miniature potato pancakes. Stick some chopped chocolate bits here and there.  Bake, in batches, until the cookies feel dry on the surface and the protruding coconut shreds are dark golden brown (this is difficult to make out really!) and the interior still looks like melted chocolate, about 14 minutes ( I baked for 16 minutes ). Bake a tiny test batch to determine the right baking time in your oven.
  •  Slide the parchment onto a cooling rack and cool the cookies completely before removing them from the parchment. Or, if using the silicone mats, cool the cookies on the sheets on the rack, and then, using an offset spatula, transfer the cookies from the mats onto the cooling rack to cool completely.


The cookies are most delicious, crisp-ish on the day they are baked. They do taste good later too, but more chewier. These can be stored in an airtight container, for 4 to 5 days.

Please note : I have grated the outer darker layer of dried coconut (copra) first, discarded it and then grated the rest before measuring. I find the darker portion makes cookies even chewier. If you find ready shredded  dried coconut, use it.  Do not reduce the quantity of sugar as the taste of the chocolate and coconut will come through only with enough sugar. Quarter the recipe and see how sweet you would like them. And absolutely, better chocolate will give you better taste!

46 comments:

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

I remember your mentioning latkes, but didn't realise you meant dessert! :)
I like the potato latkes but chocolate sounds good. Like you said "Chocolate" is the answer". :D

Padmajha said...

Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year.And Happy Blog Anniversary Suma.
I would love to be a part of the giveaway.Awesome book yaar.

Sharanya palanisshami said...

latkes are inviting to taste............ congrats on your 3rd anniversary. lovely giveaway dear.

Madhuli said...

The cookies look very tempting and congrats on the delicious 3 yrs..may you have many more yummy years :)

Unknown said...

Awesome combination of chocolate & coconut. adding to my to try list.

Archana said...

Chocolate and coconut - sounds like an awesome combo ! Happy New year to you and happy baking...

Pragya said...

Lovely idea of choco latkes...and sounds like an amazing giveaway.. :)

Archana said...

Hmm teh latkes look yum. I want some.
Hey that is a rhyme. What else will happen if you keep wrinting rhymes (HW) all over on Suunday.
Congrats on turning 3. and the book has my name on it. Thanks.

Jayashree said...

Congratulations on the blog anniversary, Suma.

Priya Sreeram said...

Here's to many more rocking years; chocolate is indeed the answer- each and every time; the latkes has my attention and the book is a wonderful giveaway. sounds a a must keepr. cheers

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Wishing you many more cherished years of blogging and your love :Baking.
chcolate and coconut sounds a winning combination...
Was the dough sticky Suma?
The giveaway book selection is really cool for a chocolaty lover like me :-)


lubnakarim06 said...

Congrats on your soon coming Blog Anniversary....Cheers for that....Latkes with chocolate sounds extremely yum to me...they look like party to the taste buds....

Rekha said...

Happy blogversary Suma..can't wait to try this recipe and get my hands on that book too :)

Unknown said...

Wow these are tempting!!! and happy blog anniversary and wishing many more to come!!!
Sowmya

Sum said...

What an easy recipe for a chocolate craving, Suma! And a lovely giveaway too :)

Anonymous said...

Chocolate latkes! Now that is a first for me. They look gooey and yummy. Did you use fresh grated coconut? Great giveaway, happy to enter this one :)

Anonymous said...

Oops, just re-read and saw your note on the copra. Good to know. Thanks!

Anusha Birlangi said...

Happy Blog Anniversary Suma and a Happy New Year! Chocolate and coconut combination sounds delicious. The giveaway is awesome and I would love to win this giveaway..fingers crossed :)

Anusha

divya said...

Wow.. It's so delectable..

Deepthi Shankar said...

Congrats Suma :) love your blog. Awesome recipe this.

Achu said...

Happy Blog Anniversary!! It is so yummy.. and amazing giveaway.. would love to have this book as we are chocolate lovers :)

Little Wings said...

happy 3rd anniversary..this recipe is so simple yet appealing..keep up the hard work..

Little Wings said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Priti said...

Happy Blog Anniversary!! Here's wishing you many more in future. the chocolate latkes look delicious and Thanks for the giveaway.

Swati Raman Garg said...

suma u r a savior in many ways.. frst that GFA post ni my arly baking days and then this.. this morning i saw a macaroon recipe and was wondering where can i get sweetened coconut.. thankus.. now congo on the anniversary.. :)

Shanti said...

Ive been a great fan of your blog since i discovered it. Happy blog anniversary! I came on here today looking for recipes using strawberries and found this instead! Would love to be part of your giveaway.

fzaz said...

This surely looks tasty. Since it's mostly coconut based, I'm sure this gives a nice distinct flavour that baked coconut gives. It's a guilt free recipe for the diet conscious....and with a touch of chocolate!!!!!
The quantity is a lot, so I'd like to make this & store for my kids to munch every time (& for me too!!!!)
Your piping gel recipe & shops selling bakery items have been of great help for me.
I'd like to take part in this awsome chocolate book giveaway
Thank you for sharing.
Happy Blogging.

Ally said...

Congratulations on the blog anniversary....and sure would love to be a part of the giveaway!

Deekshanya said...

''Chocolate is the answer - who really cares what the question is?'' lol well said. I am drooling over these latkes! First time commenting, but have been a silent reader for long. I am going to try this, bookmarking now.

Sweet'n'Savoury said...

Congratulations on your 3rd blog Anniversary. You have inspired me to a great deal to start a blog of my own as I am a big fan of baking myself. Love to follow you and all the amazing bakes and cooking. I am a self confessed choco-holic and these latkes are superb. Great going Suma. Wishing you many many more years of blogging!

Priya Suresh said...

Congrats Suma,keep on going.

Am in love with those latkes, bookmarking it to make some soon.

Wonderful giveaway too,who will say no to chocolate.

team ecoSycle said...

You always seem to be reading my mind… I adore choclate and sweets, and always want these in January. Bring on the bakes!

Unknown said...

Congratulations for your 3rd birthday...and looking forward for More from Cakes n More.....

Nachiketa said...

Happy Blogiversary
Am so happy for you :)
I loooovvveeee ure blog and the essence it captures....

Alice Medrich's Chocolate Holidays - Desserts For Every Season! sounds like a lovely give away for the occasion.

Am so glad to have you around for me... always :)

Cheers,

M D said...

Wow! These Chocolate latkes look delicious! Is it 3 years already since I know you??? These 3 yrs have crossed so soon, can't believe! Congratulations Suma. You've evolved so well as a baker, it's inspiring and sure it reflects on this blog. Keep up the good work. Looking forward for more from Cakes n More to come.

M D said...

Wow! These Chocolate latkes look delicious! Is it 3 years already since I know you??? These 3 yrs have crossed so soon, can't believe! Congratulations Suma. You've evolved so well as a baker, it's inspiring and sure it reflects on this blog. Keep up the good work. Looking forward for more from Cakes n More to come.

Swapna said...

Congratulations on the blog anniversary, Suma :)....

Noodle said...

I make potato latkes frequently for dinner but this is such a lovely idea. Will try them for dessert (or even breakfast!) over the weekend. Congratulations on the blog anniversary - you are such an inspiration, not to mention a treasure trove of baking information :) Wishing you continued success always! Hugs.

Samskruthi said...

Hi Suma
Love ur blogging, ur's is the site which got me started on baking.Hope I get the chocolate give away book

Tummy Delites said...

Congrats on getting three years old!! I am sure its a big achievement..and Thank you for giving us such a wonderful recipie... Kids love anything with chocolate and Latkes with chocolate........will surely try them...

aathidhya said...

Congratulations on that fantastic note and turning 3 and managing the blog amidst of day to day add ups is not so very easy. I repent as to why I was away from blogging for 1 year. I am back now.

Chocolate latkes are simple yet so delicate fantasies that one can melt on. Chocolate is all time favourite and this looks inviting. Just waiting for my cough to subside so that I can try this out with dried copra


Chaitra
http://aathidhyam.blogspot.in/

Gayathri Ramdas Sreekanth said...

Suma..Big congrats !! wow 3...so it's been one flight of a year since your anniversary..I still can't thank you enough for gifting me the cookies book by Alice Medrich then..! Wishing you only the very best going forward as well...

Unknown said...

Loved the recipe suma!!! I would love to be a part of the give away. The book seems to be too good

Unknown said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary Suma! Hope I'm the lucky one :)

Prabs said...

Your blog has made a tremendous progress in the past year, esp in the Bread way! Here's to the 3 years.. Cheers! :)

great-secret-of-life said...

yummy and so soft..
http://great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com