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Chocolate Cookies with Cocoa Nibs and Lime

Chocolate Cookies with Cocoa Nibs and Lime

I made these cookies on a whim the other night after looking at some very fancy chocolates online made by some hip and trendy chocolatier in Paris. One of them was chocolate and lime and as I saw it I thought, “Well that seems intriguing! I do believe I’ll head to the store and pick up some limes and try that out as a cookie. And you know what? I bet it would be even better with some cocoa nibs!” After a quick stop at the market and a small rendezvous in the kitchen I tasted what had to be one the most flavorful cookies I’d ever eaten. I brought them to Elise and her parents and all agreed that this cookie is fantastic. It’s floral and dark, with a taste that reminds you of nights on the beach with friends. A perfect cookie for dipping into a chilled glass of lemonade or limeade.

For those who aren’t familiar with cocoa nibs they’re pieces of roasted, crushed up cocoa beans. They’re fragrant, dark, bitter bordering astringent and have a pure taste of raw chocolate with notes of coffee. Plus, they have a delightful crunch much like a nut. You cannot substitute chocolate chips for cocoa nibs. Do yourself a favor a buy some at the store or online; once you try them you’ll be in love, using them in everything from cookies to ice cream, to smoothies and granola.

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Chocolate Cookies with Cocoa Nibs and Lime Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of butter
  • 3/4 cup of brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup of white granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons of heavy cream
  • 1 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup of cocoa nibs
  • Zest of one large lime

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Beat the butter and sugars together for about two minutes at medium speed or until well incorporated and light in color. Add the egg, cream, and vanilla extract until well incorporated, about a minute. Be sure to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl halfway through.

2 Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. Add to the butter mixture slowly, and beating at medium speed, stopping once all of it is incorporated (do not overmix). Fold in the cocoa nibs and lime zest.

3 Take small spoonfuls of the dough and roll into one inch sized balls and place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes. Let cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Perfect for dipping in homemade limeade or lemonade.

Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.

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40 Comments

Here in Seattle there's a company called Theo that makes all kinds of odd and wonderful chocolate concoctions: Nib Brittle Dark Chocolate, Coconut Curry Milk Chocolate and Fig, Fennel and Almond Dark Chocolate, to name a few. Chocolate really is more versatile than we often give it credit for.

Posted by: Angie on May 21, 2009 8:51 PM

Cocoa nibs are my favorite! I grind them slightly and then put them on top of vanilla ice cream, sometimes with a dash of cinnamon - yum! Thanks for the great recipe! It made my mouth water when I read it. Can't wait to try it!

Posted by: Melinda G. on May 21, 2009 9:55 PM

These sound interesting. Somehow I feel compelled to want to replace the lime zest with orange. Think I will make half a batch each way!

Posted by: Martha on May 21, 2009 9:58 PM

Oh my goodness! Those look amazing! I would never have thought to put lime in a chocolate cookie! I will have to try these! Thank you!

Posted by: My Two Seasons on May 21, 2009 10:27 PM

Mmm, I love it!

Posted by: khala on May 22, 2009 3:43 AM

I am not sure what cocoa nibs are. Help? Thanks.

Please read the post. ~Garrett

Posted by: Sandy on May 22, 2009 5:31 AM

My two favorite things, limes and chocolate! But I have a dairy allergy (butter excludind) and wonder if the cream is necessary and may be substituted for something.... (can't have soy either).

Not sure, I would use whatever you might normally use for baking or as a milk substitute and see how it works. If you give it a go, I encourage you to come back and let other readers know what your experience was. ~Garrett

Posted by: Sharon on May 22, 2009 6:09 AM

I don't usually have heavy cream (or any cream!) on hand, what can be substituted?

I suppose whole milk could be just fine. ~Garrett

Posted by: azleena on May 22, 2009 6:17 AM

I love the idea of lime with chocolate. I hadn't considered before this but it sounds great!

Posted by: Sara on May 22, 2009 6:18 AM

What are cocoa nibs?

The whole second paragraph of the post discusses just this. Go back and read it and you'll find your answers. =) ~Garrett

Posted by: Sandy on May 22, 2009 7:59 AM

Does it matter if natural or dutch cocoa is used? The cookies look puffy, are they cakey? Or chewy?

And, Garrett, what are cocoa nibs...ahhh, just kidding!

I use Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa powder which I believe is Dutch Processed. As for texture they are somewhere between chewy and cakey. ~Garrett

Posted by: bittermelon on May 22, 2009 9:24 AM

re: milk/cream in the recipe. I can find a subsitute if i know why it's needed... the peppermint bark choc. cookie recipe doesn't have it.. What is the point of the dairy in this particular cookie? Thanks Garrett.

Just give the cookies a bit more moisture in this case as the cocoa nibs do a good job trying to absorb some of it, otherwise the cookie can get a bit dry. It also add a bit more fat and richness to the cookie.~Garrett

Posted by: sharon on May 22, 2009 9:30 AM

Interesting recipe. I've to find cocoa nibs, and I'll try it... lime and chocolate? Why not?

Posted by: Dominique (de vous à moi...) on May 22, 2009 9:30 AM

I love recipes that challenge me to explore new flavor combinations. I am definitely going to give these cookies a try. Thanks.

Posted by: Regnald J on May 22, 2009 9:45 AM

I think making these will be a wonderful way to celebrate getting done with work early. Now I just need to find someplace in Fargo, ND that sells cocoa nibs...

Please, I find them just sitting in pristine bags on the side of the road in Fargo, ND. ;) ~Garrett

Posted by: Kelly on May 22, 2009 10:24 AM

I'm often looking for new ways to get my friends to try food combinations they would never try on their own. Last Christmas I made chocolate truffles with a chili blend and they were amazed. I think this will be yet another great recipe that they'll appreciate as a new and different experience. They look fun to make as well. I agree with Martha that an orange version might be interesting too. I may have to try both. Thanks for sharing!

Posted by: Natanya on May 22, 2009 10:53 AM

This sounds yummy. I love chocolate and crunchy things. It made me think of a chewy chocolate tangerine cookie made by Dancing Deer that I would never have thought I'd like but wish I could replicate. Sound like a job for Garrett? :)

Annie, I have a laundry list of things to bake already, ha ha. Why not give it a go yourself? =) ~Garrett

Posted by: Annie on May 22, 2009 12:05 PM

Chocolate and lime...that does sound interesting! The way you describe cocoa nibs really makes me want to try them.

Posted by: Erica from Cooking for Seven on May 22, 2009 2:35 PM

Thanks, Angie. I visited Theo of Seattle and ordered their Vegan Collection.

Posted by: Jim on May 22, 2009 3:13 PM

Hmmm...you know how I love my Lime and my Chocolate. I bet this would be a great cheesecake combo. OR fuse the nibs with some nice white rum and make a cocoa mojito. OR do the cocoa mojito but instead of topping off with club soda, use strawberry seltzer water...oh Garrett, the possibilities are endless!!

Posted by: Darby "The Dessert Diva" on May 22, 2009 5:34 PM

Great recipe. I'm off to the store to find some cocoa nibs.

Posted by: Jason on May 22, 2009 7:10 PM

I've heard of a 25% cocoa extract that's like eating 10 chocolate bars at once. Would something like that work with recipes.. I heard the extract should be added to hot drinks like coffee.

I have no idea. Never used it before. ~Garrett

Posted by: Food Lover on May 22, 2009 9:21 PM

These look fabulous. I think I'll try to make them gluten free!

Posted by: Stephanie on May 23, 2009 8:12 AM

These were interesting and delicious...but I should probably start with the fact that I totally messed them up. I intended to half the recipe (only two of us this weekend), and then half way through I accidentally added the full amount of flour...so when I realized it and I started scooping out random amounts...but then I remembered the altitude and thought about adding some back...sigh. you see where this is going - disaster! Anyway, miracles do happen - they were yum! First time using cocoa nibs and was wondering if Garrett or anyone else knows if the nibs come in different chunk sizes...the ones I used were pretty small/fine and I think larger chunks might be better (if they exist!).
Anyway, thanks for the post and idea to combine different/seemingly opposite ingredients - these had wonderful layers of flavor - a sophisticated cookie for sure!

Posted by: rose on May 23, 2009 9:22 AM

I love nibs and am glad to have a new recipes to try them in. And the cheesecake idea some suggested--brillant! I'm making a cheesecake today and have key lime, nibs, and chocolate graham crackers...

For the person who can't use dairy, you might try coconut oil in place of the butter, but chill the dough before you roll balls with it. I substitute half the butter in my chocolate chip cookie recipe with coconut oil--the taste is heavenly, but the cookies tend to spread more if the dough isn't thoroughly chilled when it goes into the oven. You could also skip the cream and add an extra egg yolk instead.

Posted by: Chris at Lost Arts Kitchen on May 23, 2009 9:37 AM

Will this recipe scale down? I'm just really terrified of making 12 dozen cookies that are no doubt absolutely irresistible :-).

Posted by: PV on May 23, 2009 10:50 AM

Mmm...sounds tasty, do you know how I could make this recipe vegan?

I don't bake vegan, so you would know better than me. ~Garrett

Posted by: Wheeler's Crew on May 23, 2009 4:26 PM

I am going to get some nibs immediately!

Posted by: unconfidentialcook on May 23, 2009 5:14 PM

I sort of pressed something before I commented! But the addition of the lime really intrigues me. So I wanted to comment! (Even if i am comment-challenged). And they look luscious. Definitely going to try this.

Posted by: Claudia on May 23, 2009 6:45 PM

Garrett!
Love this idea and will try to make them for a tex-mex bbq we are attending this w/e. Since we are neighbors, (sort of- I live in Oakland) I was wondering if you could give me advise on where to find nibs? I know Whole Foods has them but wanted to see if you know other options?
Thank you!

Uh, I have no clue what is in Oakland. Sorry. Just call around to your local stores. =) ~Garrett

Posted by: mikutech on May 26, 2009 5:16 PM

Wow Garrett, I've been visiting this site this past week for different recipes, and every time I hit the front page, this photo/recipe calls my name! I think I'm going to have to give in! Thanks for sharing this AMAZING looking recipe =)

~ Jenny

Posted by: Jenny on May 27, 2009 11:55 AM

Where can I get Cocoa Nibs? I have no idea where to get them and I MUST make this recipe!

Call around or buy online. ~Garrett

Posted by: Alex on May 27, 2009 3:20 PM

Wow- I just made these, and am so proud of myself for 1) holding almost completely to the recipe's specifications and 2) not eating more than two as they came out of the oven to cool. These are so yummy! And they have the added bonus of reminding me of Lime Delicious, a chocolate cookie-crumb classic my grandma used to make- heavenly. So I think I will be sending some of these out to the fam... Thanks for the post!

Posted by: Margaret on May 27, 2009 7:46 PM

These are officially the best cookies I have ever made, and the only time I have ever starting eating the dough straight from the bowl. I used a small ice cream scoop to form the cookies, and I would eat a little bit of dough after each scoop.

Posted by: Kairu on May 31, 2009 3:27 PM

Garrett,
Just wanted to thank you for this amazing recipe! I added 1/2 teaspoon of ceyanne to the mix and *OMG*...amazing! I brought the cookies to a tex/mex BBQ and everyone loved loved loved them. We also played the "guess what's in the cookie" game and many guessed the ceyanne was ginger. The ceyanne gives it a nice spiced flavor- without being spicy! Works so well with chocolate and lime flavors.
Thanks again for this super delicious recipe!

Michelle

Posted by: Mikutech on June 1, 2009 10:52 AM

Whole Foods sells raw cocoa nibs, can I use those or do I need to roast them first, and if so, how should I roast them?
Thanks.

Just use them straight out of the bag as they have already been roasted. ~Garrett

Posted by: caro on June 2, 2009 12:57 PM

Thanks for this recipe! I have made two half batches and both turned out great, although aren't as shiny as your photo.

For each batch I used a whole egg instead of trying to figure out how to halve it. By the second batch I was out of cream and vanilla, so I used whole milk and substituted some of the white sugar for some vanilla sugar I had made a while ago with some nice beans. Both times the dough was wetter than I expected. Maybe as a result of the egg. I don't know.

This is my favorite cookie now.

Posted by: dave on June 4, 2009 1:36 PM

I made these yesterday and they are wonderful. May be the best cookies I've ever made. I'll definitely be making them again. I followed the directions exactly, except the cocoa nibs I used had a dusting of Mexican chocolate with some cayenne; added a nice touch. Thanks for the great recipe.

Posted by: Karen Bowers on June 7, 2009 11:14 AM

I just made these and they are interesting and super tasty. this is the first time using cocoa nibs and already I am wondering what else I can put them in-delicious.

Posted by: Stacey Hughes on June 15, 2009 9:56 AM

I made a double batch of these a few months ago, and they were a huge hit. I'm making another batch right now with a different cookies recipe since I didn't have heavy cream in the house.

I used significantly more lime zest both times- the zest of more than three limes for a single batch, which brought the taste of the lime out a bit more. So don't shy away from more lime!

Posted by: Anna on July 20, 2009 11:40 AM

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