Good Idea: Add Black Pepper to Chocolate Cookies

Text and recipe from Where Flavor Was Born by Andreas Viestad (Chronicle, 2007).

"I grew addicted to chocolate pepper cookies when I was staying in Cape Town while writing this book. The addition of a generous amount of coarsely ground black pepper gives the cookies real attitude and a nice peppery flavor: At the same time, the pepper also works as a flavor enhancer, so the cookies actually taste more chocolatey.

"The secret is to find the right balance between sweet chocolate and pungent pepper. I like the cookies rather on the peppery side. Start by adding a little pepper and make one small batch to sample, then add more pepper to taste."

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South African Chocolate Pepper Cookies

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Ingredients

1	pound bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped and divided
12	tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2/3	cup brown sugar
2	large eggs
2	cups all-purpose flour
2/3	teaspoon baking soda
1	tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

1	pound bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped and divided
12	tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2/3	cup brown sugar
2	large eggs

2	cups all-purpose flour
2/3	teaspoon baking soda
1	tablespoon freshly ground black pepper