A couple of weeks ago, Bowl #2 and I made a little move to a new place just across the street, scooting into our friends’ apartment after they moved uptown for grad school. Adjusting to this apartment so far has been, for lack of a better simile, like taming a giddy, unrestrained crush. So much light! So many shelves! So clean! So new! CLOSETS! POT AND PAN RACK! For the most part, the last week has consisted largely of Bowl #2 and I looking at each other, firmly ensconced in our old squishy couch on our old chevron rug in our new living room, saying over and over, “I love this apartment. Don’t you love this apartment?”
Of course, being a New York apartment, it’s not without its faults. So far, mainly just a minor (and fixable) one — a stubborn oven that releases gas but refuses to light. (And has since caused the gas company shut off the gas to our apartment altogether. Me: “But … are you sure I can’t just use the stove? You know? Just the stove?” Them: “Yes, unless you want to risk gas building up in the oven and blasting the whole thing apart.” Me: “So … no?”) But, like with most giddy crushes, we’ve readily rationalized its shortcomings — no working stove or oven means an excuse for delivery pizza, right? And green smoothies for lunch, and contemplating crazy shenanigans involving hot water kettles and instant ramen.
What really amazes me about our new home, though, is how much and how recently we were unsure about whether to make the move. Even though we knew exactly what we were getting ourselves into — it being our friends’ apartment, after all — there was something scary about shaking up the status quo. Just the thought of uprooting ourselves from the familiar was enough, I think, to wash our old imperfect apartment in nostalgia and make it harder to leave. (Plus the thought of packing.) So part of what I’m loving so much about our new digs is the gladness that we mustered up the courage to make a change, and the welcome reminder that change can be good, exciting, and necessary.
Given our dormant oven, today’s recipe is for a batch of cookies I made awhile back in our old place. Speaking of change, they’re the perfect example of how old things give way to new wonders — they’re a riff on the very first cookie I ever made from scratch, the now-infamous Jacques Torres New York Times 36-hour chocolate chip cookie. I had almonds and white chocolate burning a hole in my pantry, so I swapped out the regular chocolate chips for them; then, on a whim, I topped it off with rosemary brown butter. That brown butter. Its earthy warmth helps ground an otherwise intense white chocolate, resulting in a deeply rich, savory-sweet cookie with even more of that nuanced, addictive caramel note so well-sung in the original. And, as in the original, the extended wait time results in a perfectly textured cookie with a crisp edge and a chewy, buttery center — but with a tad extra crunch from the almonds to round it all off. I think this would make a perfect Christmas cookie (or an anytime cookie, since I made them in April).
To our dear friends and former neighbors, if you read this — thanks for the sweet digs. The only thing wrong with it is that you guys aren’t here anymore. (Well, I guess that and the oven.) And also thanks for the popsicles in the freezer. They are bomb. P.S. I haven’t killed your oregano and thyme yet.
Rosemary, almond, & white chocolate cookies.
based on a half-batch of Jacques Torres’ infamous chocolate chip cookie recipe; makes about 12-18 cookies.
Ingredients
- for the rosemary browned butter:
- 4 tbsp butter
- 3–4 small sprigs rosemary
- for the rest:
- 1 cup cake flour
- 3/4 cup bread flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp coarse salt, such as kosher
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1 cup (about 6 oz) white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds, plus more for pressing on top
Instructions
- Melt 4 tbsp of butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted, add rosemary, and continue to stir until butter bubbles and crackles, then turns a rich medium brown. For a stronger brown butter flavor, let the butter go darker (even burned). Set aside and let cool.
- Sift together cake flour, bread flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together the brown sugar and remaining 6 tbsp of softened butter until smooth. Add the granulated sugar, then set a fine mesh strainer over the bowl and pour the browned butter through, straining out the rosemary sprigs. Discard sprigs, then beat again vigorously until mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Finally, add the egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract, and beat again until incorporated.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix gently just until incorporated. Finally, fold in the white chocolate and almonds.
- Chill the dough for at least 4 hours and ideally up to 36 hours.
- When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough into balls of about two tablespoons each, and place on a parchment- or Silpat-lined baking sheet about 3 inches apart. If you like, press a few more almonds on top. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until edges are set and centers are still soft. Cookies will continue to set once they’ve been removed from the oven.
leahgreenbergdavis
The Jacques Torres NY Times cookie is one of the first things I baked from scratch too and my husband still asks about them – haha. I try to tell him that it is good to try different things but they are so so good. These sound like a delicious new combination! Congrats on the new digs 🙂
tworedbowls
Yes!!! They’re amazing, aren’t they? When they’re that good, it’s pretty hard to branch out … hehe. Thanks so much, Leah!
Sini | my blue&white kitchen
So glad your new place feels like home already! And can you imagine how awesome it will feel when the whole apartment is filled with wonderful aromas of baked goods? I think it will make you fall in love with your new home even more deeply than you already have. And I truly can’t wait to see how you capture that new light…exciting!
These cookies look fabulous! I’ve heard of Jacques Torres’ famous 36-hour cookies but haven’t yet managed to bake a batch of them. Thanks for the reminder!
tworedbowls
This direct light is a whole different beast! I’ve gotten so used to knowing which times I need to aim for that I’m all confused xD Plus now I’m trying to grow some herbs on the windowsills (that our friends bequeathed to us). Times are strange and changing. Hehe. Hope you try his cookies, Sini! They’re truly amazing. And thank you as always for your sweet words 🙂
cakeoversteak
These cookies sound so interesting! And I love the photos, as usual. Great light. Can’t wait to see what you produce in your new apartment! I’m glad you didn’t go too far so I can still hang out with you in Brooklyn sometime. I hope your oven starts working for you soon. 🙂
tworedbowls
YES! We still absolutely have to make it happen — as long as we’re in NY, we’ll be in BK, so you’ll know where to find us 🙂 Thanks so much, Sara!
Jessica Rose
Change can be scary…it places us outside of our comfort zone….Good Luck and happy baking in your new home.
http://vodkaandarose.blogspot.co.uk
tworedbowls
Totally agree 🙂 Thanks so much, Jessica!
Belinda Lo (Moonblush Baker)
What a combination! I am a big fan of NY times cookie and I am all the way from Australia. Nothing is better than feeling like you are truely breaking in your new house. You have truly made your new place a home; I am sure new memories will be formed with your family here with or without your baked goods. 😉
tworedbowls
Thank you so much for your kind words, Belinda! And so excited to see you here — I love love love your blog and all your gorgeous creations 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
erika
Oh HELLO thanks for the lovely link love <333 Okay first of all, I love this (I am so afraid of change so it's a constant struggle to remember that change is GOOD! This is awesome!) and second of all, I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING WITH ALL THIS NEW LIGHT. (!!!!!!) Can't. Wait. Ugh I'm so sad your stove is broken!!! I hope it gets fixed soon, but I also love that you and Bowl #2 are being so positive about it (delivery pizza YES!). Because pizza is amazing. And so are you. Yay for new moves! <3
tworedbowls
Hahaha omg Erika you are THE best. This comment put such a smile on my face yesterday morning <3 <3 What's also the best is that green smoothie recipe -- SO so good!!! I just recently got into making smoothies at home and now I'm so hooked. I have a "march of bananas" of my own going on right now. (Loved your writing in that article, too! You rock.) I need to get some of that protein powder for extra oomph. Thanks for such sweet words, lady!!
Todd
That’s so exciting to hear about your amazing new apartment (except for the leaky gas thing, of course). What great friends!! White chocolate cookies are just the best. You don’t see them too often, but they’re my personal favorite. Especially coming from you 🙂
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Todd!! That means a ton coming from you 🙂 Such a fan of Honestly YUM!
Todd
Aww, thanks!!
dinnersforwinners
Wonderful!! I love that you added the rosemary in these — so so tempting! I don’t have any white chocolate in the house, ahk. Moving house is such a monumental task, an uprooting — I’m so glad you made the change and that you’re so happy with everything! Congratulations, and once your oven comes back to life I can’t wait to follow along with more of your delicious treats 🙂
tworedbowls
Aw, thank you so much for such kind words, Sophie!!! You should definitely try rosemary in cookies 🙂 I’m addicted to just a touch of it in sweets.
Pang
Did the gas company guy make ‘THAT FACE’ when you asked “But … are you sure I can’t just use the stove? You know? … I can picture this in my head even though I was’t there 🙂
I can’t wait to see your photos with all the wonderful light. Wait until the oven got fixed!!! OMG, it’s going to be awesome 🙂 Would you give us ‘a tour’ of your new place once you are done decorating?
btw, I am sharing this recipe with my friends in Thailand. It looks too good to not share 🙂
tworedbowls
HAHA he sure did. Oops 😉 And ahh, so sweet of you to share! I’m glad that it has such a lofty foundation from Jacques Torres or else I’d be nervous 🙂 Thanks so much for your kind words, Pang!
addalittle
Love the flavour combinations and I bet the brown butter works so well!
Also, congratulations on the move! It may be a big step but it’s sure as hell worth it! I’m sure you’ll create many amazing memories in the new place 🙂
http://youtube.com/addalittlefood
tworedbowls
Thanks so so much, Millie! You’re the best 🙂
Nora :)
Congrats on your new place! I hope the oven gets fixed/replaced soon!
tworedbowls
Thanks so much, Nora!! I came home last Friday night to a brand-new range — best end to the week EVER!
Stephanie Le
this morning, i was just thinking to myself, ooh, maybe cynthia posted today…i hope, i hope! and….YOU DID!! what a lovely way to start my day 🙂
so happy the two of you are settling in so superbly. i can just imagine you guys on your squishy couch together.
these cookies look bomb. i can just imagine that chewy, caramelized deliciousness. can’t wait to see you work your magic in your new kitchen!
tworedbowls
Steph, you’re just so sweet!!! This comment made my day <3 <3 If you're ever in NY, there's a spot on the squishy couch reserved just for you :):):)
Lynna | Hearts In My Oven
These sound like they would smell amazing!! Not having an oven or stove to use sucks. I would be itching to bake all day! LOL
tworedbowls
Haha, RIGHT?! At least I appreciate my new one that much more!! 🙂
hipfoodiemom
Congrats on the new apartment! it sounds fabulous!!! and these cookies. . oh my! rosemary browned butter?! rosemary is one of my favorite herbs. . these cookies make me so happy. can’t wait to try this!
tworedbowls
Ahh thanks so much for stopping by and for such kind words, Alice!! 🙂
Lan | morestomach
the 36hour cookies are my favorite cookies, i’ve made gluten free, dairy free, and vegan versions, usually DOUBLING the recipe so i can keep them on hand in the freezer. you show great restraint and good sense to halve the recipe instead.
here’s to happy changes!
tworedbowls
So freaking impressed with all these variations, Lan!! And I love that you keep some on hand in the freezer — I need to do that next time!
HortusCuisine
Yay! Congrats for the awesome new move!! And glad the move was worth it! Light and shelves in a NY apartment are always such a good thing. Can’t wait to see a new post in a new place! 😀
And I sincerely hope your oven gets back to proper functioning. You need that. WE need you to need that.
That said, rosemary brown butter and white chocolate sounds insanely good. May all the culinary gods bless you, Cynthia. <3
tworedbowls
Your comments always make my day, Valentina 🙂 Thank you so much!
Lindsey
yay for change! but yuck to non-working, possibly exploding ovens 🙁 i totally agree, sometimes a move, or a change in life is so super necessary – but also be a bit scary. sounds like the natural light situation you got over there is a dream! can i borrow some!?
glad you two are settling in and enjoying it all!
and your description of these cookies literally had me drooling – caramel-y notes, white choc., sweet-savory flavors!? all sounds lovely! xo
tworedbowls
Yes!!! This direct light is a strange new beast for sure. Although the lack of it does make summers easier — it looks like we’re going to have to crank the AC a lot more this time around. Can’t wait to meet you next week, Lindsey!!!!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
I love using herbs in my desserts, especially rosemary. It adds such a savoury, fresh, bright flavour. These cookies are gorgeous, girl, and hallelujah for more natural light! I sadly moved from an apartment with floor to ceiling windows facing west to a house surrounded by giant trees, facing north ‘n south (meaning we get no direct sunlight inside). Boo. The only good thing about all this shade is that our house is nice ‘n cool, whereas the apartment felt like a freaking oven in the summer. Speaking of ovens, I hope yours gets fixed asap. I can’t imagine living without it!
tworedbowls
Oh my god, I feel you so hard on this direct light business! We just did the exact opposite, funnily enough — the new place has the giant west-facing windows and the old place was north and south. We used to marvel at how naturally cool our place was even when it was almost 100 out! You win some, you lose some. 🙂 Thanks so much, Nance! Hope you’re doing amazingly <3
Jessica @ Sweet Menu
They say change is as good as a holiday 🙂 These cookies look divine!
tworedbowls
I totally agree, Jessica! Thanks so much! 🙂
Michelle @ Hummingbird High
I love everything about this post! I’m totally the same way about change. It’s both welcome but overwhelming at the same time, AHHH so many feelings!
Also, lovely cookies. Can’t wait to try this recipe 😀
tworedbowls
Hahaha, right? So glad we forced this one. Thanks so much, Michelle!!! 🙂
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
More shelves and light?! AWESOME!! So excited for you friend! And these cookies are awesome!
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Katrina!! 🙂
Sarah | The Sugar Hit
I know exactly what you meant about how difficult it can be to move house – to me there’s always something really unsettling about the whole process. But it’s usually always for the better, and I’m so glad you’re happy in your new place! Light, shelves, and cookies? Sounds perfect! (even if they’re from a while ago)
tworedbowls
I totally agree! And I’m so glad we did 🙂 Thanks so much, Sarah!
Tieghan
I hate moving. So much work and so much change, but in the end I always love it!! Congrats on the new apartment, so exciting!!
And the cookies look like perfection!
tworedbowls
I feel the exact same way! Thanks so much, Tieghan 🙂
Kathryn
When we moved into our new flat last year, we didn’t have a kitchen for a month so we became on similarly good terms with our pizza delivery guy 😉 It did make that first meal that I was able to cook extra special though and that was when I truly started to feel at home and knew that we’d made the right move. Here’s to many happy years of baking in your new place!
tworedbowls
No kitchen for a whole month!! Ahhh. Thank goodness that’s over — and yes, I totally agree the first meal is so special! 🙂 (Even if it’s just instant ramen… hehe!) CAN’T WAIT to meet you next week!!!!
Ailish
Congrats on your new place! The light sounds beaut, and the cookies look fab! 🙂
http://ailishgoes.blogspot.com
tworedbowls
Thank you so very much, Ailish!!
Ala
Ohh, I love this post so much! It’s crazy how much can change and yet how the anticipation is always so much scarier than the change itself. You two definitely deserve all that open light and space! It’s also impressive that you’re keeping up with le blog in the midst of moving–I turn into a total bull-vision monomaniac whenever it comes to moving time. And this cookie recipe, ya killed it, girl! Looks amazing.
tworedbowls
Aw, thank you so much, Ala!! 🙂 I definitely owe it to B2, who let me shoot food while he actually did the productive things like… pack. haha 😉
Valerie
Rosemary is my sister-herb & cookies…well, we’ve been tight since childhood. Yes. Yes!! Great way to balance white chocolate’s boom. 🙂
Congrats on the move & the discovery of precious new light!!
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Valerie!! :):)
[email protected]
Congrats Cynthia!! Moves can be so exciting, and quite overwhelming at times. I am so happy that you get a new space to explore. I am hoping that oven gets fixed soon. And these cookies..TOO GOOD. You’re great!
tworedbowls
Oh Kristan, you’re great!!! Thank you so much for such sweet comments, you make me smile every time 🙂
Cate @ Chez CateyLou
The JT cookies are one of my absolute favorite recipes – I love what you did with them! That rosemary brown butter sounds awesome! Congrats on the new apartment – what a fun new change for you two! It sounds so great!!
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Cate!!! And omg yes to JT cookies, always and forever!
Anne
Moving is soo annoying, but at least it promotes getting rid of old stuff you don’t need! Other than the fact that the new place is almost always better than the old! 🙂
That is such an interesting flavor combination! I bet it tastes delicious!
tworedbowls
YES! Goodwill didn’t know what hit it the week we donated … hahaha. Thanks so much, Anne!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
You had me at rosemary brown butter, divine cookies!
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Laura!!
mandylee@ladyandpups
I can’t tell you how many different apartments we’ve moved into during our NY time. At one time we were living in an apartment the size of a nutmeg on 13th and 8th ave without elevator, and I literally “kicked” our luggages and boxes down the staircase to “move” them…. Aaaaah… youth….
tworedbowls
Bahahaha this brought the best mental image to my mind, ever. But also, woe that our NY time didn’t overlap. Someday…!
Mary
Oh I’m so glad to have found your lovely blog – these cookies are simply gorgeous, what wonderful ingredients and flavors!
Mary
tworedbowls
Thank you so much for such kind words, Mary!! You’ve made my day 🙂
movita beaucoup
Sometimes, we think about moving. We think about buying a new house surrounded with trees instead of neighbours. Then we think about the packing… But now that I know there are cookies and light and the end of the tunnel? I’m thinking we should hit some open houses this weekend.
{Also, there have been huge crews of dirty men digging up the sewer lines two doors up. Apparently the infrastructure here is 60 years old, so the pipes are all… exploding. I refuse to bake with poop in our basement.}
Rach
So I made these cookies and they’re absolutely AMAZING!! But I don’t quite get why they have to sit so long—does it have to do with the flavor or the dough?
tworedbowls
Ahhh, I’m so glad you liked them!!!! That makes my day! 🙂 It’s an interesting question as to why they need to sit — I’ve seen discussions that say that the wait time allows the moisture from the wet ingredients to fully disperse through the cookie, others that speculate that it gives time for gluten development or firms up the cookie, still others that say it allows a greater depth and marriage of all the flavors … All of which is probably true to some extent 🙂 At the same time, I’ve also seen other discussions that say it doesn’t matter and may actually make the cookie greasier. I think giving it at least a little rest — an hour, maybe — is best, but maybe not mandatory if you’re in a hurry 🙂
eva@myfrontburner
Nothing makes a new house feel like home than the smell of a batch of cookies baking. Enjoy the new digs. The blog is great. Keep it up!
tworedbowls
Thank you so very much for such kind words, Eva!
Agnieszka
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Renee
Ah, those cookies! I absolutely love brown butter, and the combination with rosemary ánd white chocolate ánd almonds must be amazing! Hope you’ll soon feel completely at home at your new place and discover how everything works out there (:
Ami@NaiveCookCooksa
Such beautiful pics and these cookies are just too good looking!
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Ami! 🙂
Mo Ray
Gosh! Looking at these pictures makes me want to push my plain lunch, run off to Millie’s Cookies to grab a bag of white chocolate cookies and have that instead 🙁 lol. Hopefully, one day I will try out this recipe as the finished result looks incredibly yummy!! Hope your new place has begun to feel like home 😉
Mo x
tworedbowls
Haha! I’m always down to have cookies for lunch 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by, Mo!
Athena P.
These pictures are beautiful! You’re a consistent inspiration. Cheers to new beginnings!
tworedbowls
You’re so kind, Athena! Thank you so much. 🙂
Lauren
I love this idea. I am always looking for more ways to use rosemary! Thanks for the inspiration!
thaliaho
wow what a great flavour combination idea, your photography makes the recipe so much more tempting too! will definitely be testing out this recipe. thanks!