Monday, October 12, 2009

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde plus Split Personality Cookies

It's Cookie Bookie Week! Come back every day for spooktacular October reading recommendations plus a few of my favorite fall cookie recipes.
Let's start today with The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by one of my favorite authors, Robert Louis Stevenson. It is not my intention to give away the plot of any of the books that I recommend, but I'm guessing you already know that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are two distinctive personalities inhabiting one body. Mild-mannered Dr. Jekyll, in the interest of progressive science, creates a break-through potion in his London laboratory. Who can test the safety and effectiveness of this new formula? Dr. Jekyll drinks it down. In so doing, he transforms himself into the evil, vicious, violent, rabble-rousing Dr. Hyde. But here's the kicker: Dr. Hyde is just an outward symbol of the evil that lurks in all of us. We think ourselves good, kind, and benevolent, but with a little slip, we could transform ourselves into the inquitious, corrupt and hideous. At least in literature. (And maybe a wee bit in real life too.) Take care dear readers, because if you invite Mr. Hyde for a ride in the car, he will very soon want to be the driver. For Dr. Jekyll, there was no turning back. Lend an hour this October to read this charming novella and be prepared to transport yourself to the inky lamp-lit streets of 18th century London. And now for the cookie (and please ignore my Mr. Hyde-ish cookie sheet)....
Since Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde coinhabit one body, I've rolled two polar cookie personalities into one treat: The Split Personality Cookie. With one side evil chocolate and the other innocent buttery vanilla, it's guaruntee to appeal to both sides of our moral spectrums. It's simpler than it looks; you take a straightforward batch of cookies, split it in half and mix a little cocoa powder into one side and a little extra flour into the other. The result is both angelic and devilish. And you're going to love it.
Split Personality Cookies
Estimated Cost: $5.00
Makes Four Dozen
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour, plus 1/2 cup flour, divided use
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 (14 ounce) package M and Ms (divide use)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars in large bowl. Add vanilla and eggs and mix well. Add soda, powder, and salt. Mix in 2 cups flour. Divide dough into two somewhat equal portions and place in separate bowls(just eyeball it). Stir cocoa powder into one bowl; add remaining 1/2 cup flour into other bowl. Dough should only be slightly sticky, like play-dough, so add more flour by the tablespoon full if needed. Stir in 1 cup of M and MsTake 1/2 inch dough balls of each type and roll them into one cookie dough ball. Repeat process with all cookies. Bake cookies on cookie sheets for about 9-11 minutes. (I like them slightly underbaked.) Poke additional M and Ms into cookies immediately.
And just to show you how it's done, take two balls of dough.... roll them into one..and bake away. You can also bake a couple batches of each separate dough.

Coming Tomorrow:
More Cookie Bookie

17 comments:

Srivalli said...

wow that sure looks very innovative!..nice cookies..

Jennifer said...

very interesting! yummy looking cookies!!!!

Rindy R said...

This looks like the perfect addition to a Halloween party! Adorable!

Tanji said...

I love it!!! What a great idea! I'm sure I could use that for some YW lesson. Any excuse for treats that double as an object lesson, right? I went a little Mr Hyde on a neighbor kid the other day. All it took was a few golf balls chucked at my kids and Mr Hyde came out to play. Although I think "mama bear" has a nicer ring to it. I'm so glad "Cookie Bookie" week is back!!

Catherine said...

How have I never read "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde"? I'm putting it on my list. I love your cookie. I always bake black and white cookies separately and then have to take a bite of each to enjoy all the chocolate and vanilla goodness. I'll definitely try them your wasy next time. Although in all honesty both ways are your ways!

Patsyk said...

What fun cookies! So perfect for the spooky month of October!

Leslie said...

I always thought Dr. Jekyll would be the deranged individual who commits wrongdoing. The name Jekyll sounds far more insane and dangerous to me than plain old Mr. Hyde. The names always surprised me. But I suppose the names shouldn't since it's the same individual with the same capabilities, altered only by a dangerously magical, mysterious, potion.
I love the book. ( I also love Treasure Island.)
And the cookies look good, too.

LC said...

Love the whole "cookie bookie" theme. This is definitely going to happen at my house too.. BTW, I just made your buttermilk brownie recipe.... they are cooling as I type, however, we snuck some bites and they are FAB!! This is my go to brownie recipe from now on.. thank you..

Sherri said...

Cute cookies. Just finished up supper so I'll take a couple of 'em. ;-)

Adrienne said...

Yay for cookie bookie! I love that cookie idea.

Rachelle S said...

Wow, those look great!! Fun halloween colors!

Fantastic Mr. R said...

Oh Cookie Bookie Week, I love you!

Emily Rose said...

yeah I'm excited about cookie bookie week!! I haven't read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde since seventh grade- but I might just have to re-read it now! The cookies look so great too- great for a Halloween party!

The JR said...

Neat idea.

Ramona

Katrina said...

What a fun cookie. Also--love your snap cookies on your other post, along with the muffins.

Michal said...

yum, yum. i think this looks like a great read aloud once the kids and i finish "the legend of sleepy hollow." love the classic lit.

vanillasugarblog said...

I'm just here poking around at what I've missed.
I just adore these Ms. Erin. How cute.