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Double Chocolate Potato Drops

Double chocolate potato cookies on a wire rack.
Photo by Kelley Jordan Schuyler

The potato crops up in the quirky, old-school baker’s arsenal more than once. It offers moisture, a tight crumb, and a platform which seemingly allows certain flavors to flourish more fully. These double chocolate potato drops are my favorite example of the cakey cookie class, and their choco-fiend glaze perfectly complements their rich softness. Their secret lies not only in the potato, but in yesteryear’s preference for using melted unsweetened chocolate over today’s more common use of cocoa powder.

This recipe was excerpted from 'Baking Yesteryear' by B. Dylan Hollis. Buy the full book on Amazon.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients

For the cookies

½ cup (115g) butter, softened
1 cup (220g) packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup (105g) mashed potato, cooled
2 oz. (56g) unsweetened chocolate, melted
1½ cups (210g) all-purpose flour
¾ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
¾ cup (180ml) buttermilk
½ cup (55g) chopped walnuts

For the icing

1 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 oz. (28g) unsweetened chocolate
1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. hot water

Preparation

  1. Make the cookies

    Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 375°F.

    Step 2

    In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.

    Step 3

    Beat in the mashed potato—ensuring it is cool—and the melted unsweetened chocolate.

    Step 4

    In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk.

    Step 5

    Fold in the chopped walnuts.

    Step 6

    Drop by teaspoon or small cookie scoop onto a parchment-lined or greased baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Let them remain on the baking sheet once removed from the oven.

  2. Make the icing

    Step 7

    In a double boiler, or in a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and chocolate.

    Step 8

    Remove from the heat, and slowly begin whisking in the powdered sugar alternately with the hot water. Whisk smooth.

    Step 9

    Frost cookies by inverting them into the icing, shimmying, and then removing gently. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Periodically, the icing may need to be whisked to prevent early hardening.

Baking Yesteryear-COVER.jpg
Excerpted from Baking Yesteryear. Reprinted by permission of DK, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2023 by B. Dylan Hollis. Buy the full book from Amazon or Penguin Random House.

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