Gochujang Caramel Cookies
Past Kimchee Recipe
When you requested me to rattle off a listing of typical cookie substances, “gochujang” could be, like, the 5,375th in line. However once I clicked throughout this Past Kimchee recipe just lately, I used to be intrigued. The fermented pink chili paste, a key ingredient in considered one of my fave Korean consolation meals, has an attention-grabbing depth of taste that I imagined may lower sweetness and add complexity to a cookie. After making them just lately, the end result was a deal with that felt funky and oddly acquainted, like a spicy chocolate second with a mellow savory twist.
Korean prepare dinner and writer Holly Ford’s “adaptation” of Eric Kim’s New York Instances recipe is almost equivalent—she merely advises utilizing a hand-held or stand mixer as a substitute of hand-mixing the dough, and some different small tweaks. (A sneaky method, maybe, to share a recipe with readers who don’t have a New York Instances subscription. I assist it.) Armed with a bath of O’Meals gochujang, I set to work.
The caramel paste—a mixture of softened butter, brown sugar, and gochujang—was a parade on the tongue. I needed to cease myself from devouring the good orange mix of zingy sweetness by the spoonful. After prepping and chilling the dough, it was time to stir within the paste, which proved trickier than anticipated.
“Transferring in lengthy round strokes, swirl the gochujang combination into the cookie dough so you might have streaks of orange-red rippled all through the beige. Make certain to not overmix at this stage, as you need large, distinct strips of gochujang,” Kim’s recipe advises. Ford echoes this steerage: “Use a stiff spatula to softly swirl the caramel right into a marbling sample within the dough, guaranteeing you keep a visual colour distinction.”
I used to be determined to take care of the chunky swirls of gochujang paste that appeared so lovely within the recipe’s photographs, however chilled, barely stiffened dough is cussed. My makes an attempt to create a constant “marbling sample” (with a stiff spatula!) left the dough orange in some locations. In others, the caramel wouldn’t combine in any respect.
I pressed onward and plopped the dough onto two lined baking sheets, the place I used to be hit with one other shock. Kim’s recipe suggests ¼ cup-sized cookies, whereas Ford opts for three-tablespoon scoops. Frankly, both measurement appeared gigantic. I went with the latter and generously spaced the dough, forming 11 rounds throughout two baking sheets. The cookies unfold significantly—maybe because of the brief 15-minute chill—and emerged from the oven almost the dimensions of my hand.
I used to be excited in regards to the hints of caramelization and colour that I’d achieved, and the cookie consistency lined up with what I like in a snickerdoodle: a barely crispy edge with a chewy inside. These are spiced sugar cookies with a delicate kick—I didn’t discover the gochujang coming by till the top of every chew. Even then, it’s muted.
Subsequent time, I’d experiment with rising the quantity of gochujang within the caramel paste for a extra pronounced warmth and taste. Nonetheless, these cookies had been a posh delight. When you’re into spicy-sweet combos, warming winter recipes, otherwise you’re simply searching for a deal with that’ll begin celebration conversations, they’re value a chew.
We’re counting right down to 2025 by sharing a few of our favourite cookies on Slog day-after-day in December! As a result of life is difficult, and sugar helps. Will issues get bizarre? Possibly! There could have been a small hearth throughout the first photograph shoot! However hopefully, you may additionally uncover some new favourite treats to get pleasure from this season. Monitor our every day suggestions right here! 🍪
