Go Back

Smoky Sweet Chocolate Chip Delights

Indulge in the unique taste of Smoky Sweet Chocolate Chip Delights, a perfect blend of smoked walnuts, rich dark chocolate chips, and a classic cookie dough enhanced with a hint of cinnamon and lemon juice. Baked to perfection in a smoker, these cookies offer an irresistibly addicting smoky sweetness. There's always that one recipe that takes you back to a moment, a feeling, or a place. For me, it's the Smoky Sweet Chocolate Chip Delights. The inception of this recipe was purely accidental, born out of a lazy summer afternoon at our family cabin. With a smoker idly prepping for dinner and a sudden craving for something sweet, the idea struck me: why not use the smoker to bake cookies? Experimenting with what I had on hand, the addition of smoked walnuts was a game-changer, infusing the cookies with a depth of flavor I hadn't anticipated. Each bite now serves as a delightful reminder of that summer's day, blending the warmth of the sun with the comfort of home-cooked treats. It’s a testament to the joy of culinary adventures and the sweet surprises they can bring.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 24
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • For the Smoked Walnuts:
  • 210 g approximately 1 3/4 cups Walnuts, coarsely chopped
  • 28 g 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • 24 g 2 tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
  • For the Cookie Dough:
  • 224 g 2 sticks Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature
  • 156 g 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar
  • 144 g 3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon Lemon Juice
  • 270 g 2 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 40 g 1/2 cup Rolled Oats
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Cinnamon adjusted to taste
  • 448 g 2 cups Dark Chocolate Chips
  • Smoked Walnuts roughly chopped, to be added as per taste

Method
 

  1. Preparation of Smoked Walnuts:
  2. Initiate the process by preheating the smoker to a steady temperature of 225ºF (107ºC).
  3. Melt the unsalted butter in a sizeable bowl. Proceed to incorporate the light brown sugar, mixing until homogeneous. Introduce the chopped walnuts to this mixture, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
  4. Transfer the coated walnuts onto a sheet pan or a disposable foil pan equipped with a wire rack. The presence of grates will facilitate enhanced smoke absorption by the walnuts.
  5. Subject the walnuts to smoking for a duration of 2 hours. Following this, allow them to cool momentarily before their incorporation into the cookie dough.
  6. Cookie Dough Preparation:
  7. Elevate the smoker temperature to 300ºF (149ºC) in preparation for baking.
  8. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. This should be executed over medium speed for approximately 2 minutes until the mixture attains a light and fluffy consistency.
  9. To this mixture, add the eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Begin blending at low speed for 30 seconds, then escalate to medium speed for an additional 2 minutes, or until the mixture becomes notably light and fluffy. Ensure to scrape down the bowl to incorporate all ingredients thoroughly.
  10. Adjust the mixer to low speed and gradually introduce the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, baking soda, kosher salt, and cinnamon. Mix for roughly 45 seconds, taking care not to overmix.
  11. Manually fold in the dark chocolate chips and the previously prepared smoked walnuts into the dough until just combined.
  12. Utilizing a #16 (2.75 oz) ice cream scoop or a large spoon, portion the dough into 24 evenly sized balls. Arrange these on a parchment-lined baking sheet, maintaining a distance of approximately 2 inches between each ball to accommodate spreading.
  13. For optimal results, it is advisable to refrigerate the portioned dough for 2 to 4 hours prior to smoking.
  14. Proceed to smoke the cookies for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cookie edges turn a golden brown hue while the centers remain slightly soft.
  15. This formal presentation outlines the methodical preparation of Smoky Sweet Chocolate Chip Delights, ensuring a culinary experience that combines traditional baking techniques with the distinctive flavor infusion achieved through smoking.