These chocolate cookies are a lot like brownies, rich, moist, and delicious. This chocolate cookie recipe uses buttermilk in both the cookie and the frosting.
When I first started this blog, my mom tracked down an old family recipe for a cakey, frosted chocolate cookie that my great-grandmother used to make. In fact, it was one of the first cookies I shared with you.
Lately, I have been dreaming of that cookie, remembering how wonderfully rich and flavorful it was. I’ve been meaning to make it again.
Then last week, my great aunt passed away. We knew it was coming, but it was still sad. She was an amazing woman, warm and caring, with 8 children and approximately 452 grandchildren.
Seriously. They’re my cousins, and I don’t know who half of them are, because there are far too many to keep track of.
If the whole family was in high school together… the school would be overcrowded. You get the idea.
The passing of beloved Aunt B was the final excuse I needed to bake chocolate cookies. Well, I never need much of an excuse to make something chocolate. Let me rephrase. It was the final excuse I needed to make the family recipe.
Oh, hooray for family recipes that are chocolate!!
I learned something new this time around, while chatting with my mom about the funeral and the cookies. Mom said that Aunt B stopped making the cookies because they are a lot like brownies, and it’s easier to make brownies.
I might be the world’s biggest brownie fan, but honestly? I think I’d rather have these cookies. They are deliciously cakey and moist and brownie-like, but please don’t let that stop you.
Besides, they are coated in the single tastiest chocolate frosting in the known universe.
I’m sure when I get to heaven, I’ll find both Aunt B and these cookies there.
- ½ cup shortening
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- 1⅔ cup flour
- 4 T. butter, melted
- ½ tsp. vanilla
- 1 T. cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. buttermilk
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, melted chocolate, and vanilla, and mix well.
- Add buttermilk, salt, and soda and mix well.
- Add flour, and mix just until combined.
- Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Remove carefully and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- For frosting, combine all ingredients, mixing until smooth. Use a small amount of frosting on each cookie.
- Store in an airtight container between layers of wax paper.
I’m hungry! This looks delish! Your pictures are beautiful.
Pingback: Chocolate Oatmeal Cake Bars | Bumble's Bakes
Just made these for Conference weekend – SOOOO good! This recipe is definitely a keeper!
These chocolate cookies do look a lot like brownies but there is nothing wrong with that. Sorry to hear about your Aunt passing away. It’s neat though how recipes can bring us together
So sorry to hear about your aunt passing away.
These cookies look and sound so good Jen! I love brownies as well but I don’t say no to a cookie either. Mmm
These sound like the cookies I have been looking for for years! Here’s hoping!!
Love the look of this recipe and I’m going to give them a go. Could you help though and tell me what shortening is please? I’m in London, England and have no idea what it is! I have scales that measure American cup quantities so I can manage that. Thanks in anticipation Nina :0)
Nina, my understanding is that in England, vegetable shortening is sold with the brand names of Trex, Cookeen, or Flora White. You probably could substitute butter in this recipe, although you may need to add just a bit more flour if you do. (Maybe 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup.) You can find a little information about it here: http://www.nigella.com/kitchen-queries/view/Vegetable-Shortening-substitute/1697 These are one of my very favorite cookies, so I truly wish you luck!
Those cookies look delicious……..but I really REALLY love that cake plate…..may I ask where you found it?
Amy, I got the turquoise cake stand at a local boutique store. It doesn’t even have a brand name on it or anything, so I’m absolutely no help at all! I love it too, though. I also used an orange plate that I found at Target a few months ago. I kind of like that color combination.
Well no you’re no help at all :), maybe I need to start going to some boutiques too!
Pingback: Double Chocolate Buttermilk Muffins | Jen's Favorite Cookies
Pingback: 66 Delicious Buttermilk Recipes Beyond just Pancakes
These are so good! I have a sourdough starter, and I love to play around using it in recipes. There’s one I found a while back for sourdough brownies, and without the icing, these taste exactly the same!
Umm, sourdough brownies, you say? Holy crap that sounds amazing.
Pingback: 27 Fabulous Cookie Recipes Roundup - Modern Christian Homemaker
I just finished making these and I have to say they are just ok. I think they lack a deep chocolate flavor. I hesitated initially due to the use of shortening to make these but I was looking for a childhood cookie I used to love and thought these might be it. I wish these had been better! 🙁
My family has been making these since the early 1900s. My Canadian cousin brought the recipe down from Canada to Los Angeles. The only difference is that we make white buttercream frosting instead of this chocolate one.
Why won’t this site let me give 5 stars???
I had trouble with the frosting, the butter didn’t mix in very well , any clues?