Chocolate and Vanilla Waffle Cookies-Improv Challenge

I am back with my post for the other challenge I participate in.  The ingredients Kristen, from Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker, chose for this month's Improv Challenge were chocolate and vanilla.

There is chocolate and vanilla in many recipes, but I decided that I would play the combination up a bit by adapting a Chocolate Waffle Cookie recipe to be a two-tone cookie with one side being vanilla flavored.  Although the baking process is a bit time-consuming, waffle cookies are a great treat to make in the summer time when it is hot, and you don't want to use the oven.  Waffle cookies make a more cookie-like cookie than many no-bake recipes.  These cookies are soft and cake-like.  My waffle iron makes 4 cookies at a time.  If you have a family-size waffle iron, you can probably make 8 at a time.

Chocolate and Vanilla Waffle Cookies
1 c. sugar
2/3 c. butter, softened
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 t. vanilla, divided
1 1/2 c. flour plus 3 T.
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/2 c. milk
3 T cocoa powder
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)
1 c. sifted powdered sugar
3 T. water or milk

In large mixing bowl, combine sugar and butter and beat until creamy.  Add egg and vanilla and beat well.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to sugar/egg mixture mix well.  Add 1/2 of the milk and beat well.  Continue adding flour mixture and milk in this manner ending with the flour mixture.  Divide dough, placing half of it in a small mixing bowl.  Add cocoa powder to one of the bowls of dough mixing until well blended.  Add 1 t.vanilla and the 3 T. flour to the other half of the dough and mix well.  Add chopped nuts, if using, dividing them evenly between dough halves.  Heat waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  Drop a teaspoon of chocolate dough into two opposite corners of each waffle grid.  Drop a teaspoon of white dough next to the chocolate dough.  Close lid and cook until the waffle iron indicates cookies are done.  Gently remove the cookies with a fork and transfer to a wire rack to cool.  Combine powdered sugar and water to make a smooth glaze.  Brush glaze over the cookies.  Let set.  Transfer to a zip-top bag to store.  Makes about 3 dozen.

September's Improv ingredients are pasta and cheese.  If you would like to join in the fun, you can find all the details on Kristen's Improv Page.

To see what other bloggers have made with chocolate and vanilla, check out the links below.

Linking to these great parties:
Friday Flair
Freaking Awesome Friday
Strut Your Stuff
Weekend Potluck
Weekend Bloggy Reading
I'm Lovin' It
Link Party Palooza
Saturday Spotlight
Share Your Creativity
Party Junk

Chinese 5-Spice Glazed Waffle Cookies-Saturday Sweet

What do you do when the temperature is near triple digits, and you want cookies?  Well, I guess there are three choices.  You can go buy some, stand over the stove and make no-bake cookies or you can make waffle cookies.  I choose to do the latter.

Although I am posting a recipe, almost any cookie dough that can be rolled into balls (think peanut butter cookie dough) can be baked in a waffle iron.  You just have to be willing to do a little experimentation.

Since there is not a lot of flavor in this cookie itself, the glaze is the spotlight, and the flavor of the glaze can be changed at will.  Although I used Chinese 5-Spice, other spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie or apple pie spice are good choices.  The spices can be omitted and extracts such as almond, mint, maple and others can be used.

Although I can never wait that long, I think that these cookies are better the day after they are made.

Chinese 5-Spice Waffle Cookies
1/2 c. butter, at room temperature
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. cream or evaporated milk
4 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 c. sifted confectioner’s sugar
1 t. vanilla or other extract
1 t. Chinese 5-spice or other spice
1 to 2 T. water

Cream butter and sugar together until well blended.  Stir in egg and vanilla and mix well.  Beat in cream or evaporated milk.  Mix together flour, baking powder and salt.  Stir into creamed mixture until well blended.  The mixture will be stiff.  Heat waffle iron.  Spoon heaping teaspoonsful of dough into opposite corners of the waffle grids.  This will make 4 at a time.  Bake in a waffle iron, 2 to 3 minutes.  Remove from waffle iron and place on a cookie sheet or a sheet of waxed paper.  Repeat with remaining dough.  In a small mixing bowl, beat together melted butter, confectioner’s sugar, vanilla and spice.  Add water to make a glaze consistency.  Brush glaze over the cookies, letting it seep into the grids of the cookies.  Makes about 40 cookies.

Linking to these great parties:
Weekend Potluck
Party Junk
Creative Linky Party
Saturday Spotlight
Weekend Bloggy Reading
Strut Your Stuff
I'm Lovin' It 
Sunday Funday 
Sugar and Slice Sunday 
Whad't You Do This Weekend