Garam masala is a beautifully warm spice blend used in Indian, Middle Eastern and Caribbean cooking. It is a wonderful blend of cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, cloves, coriander, fennel, nutmeg, peppercorn, mace, and bay leaf. Although there are lots of warm sweet spices in the mix, garam masala is typically used in savory dishes, like curries, soups, marinades and yogurt sauces.
Now although it is most commonly referred to as a savory spice blend, it adds a beautifully warm, umami flavor to sweet dishes too and these chocolate garam masala cookies are the perfect example of how this iconic spice blend can be used deliciously in so many ways.
Let’s get started…
Begin by creaming a cup of room temperature butter with a cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar using either an electric hand mixer or a good stiff whisk.
Add a large egg and a teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix until creamy and completely combined.
Add 2 cups of all purpose flour, 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of espresso powder (optional, but highly recommended), 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons of garam masala and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Mix until the cookie dough a just brought together and you no longer see dry ingredients unincorporated.
Mix 1/3 cup of granulated sugar with about 1/2 teaspoon of either cinnamon, more garam masala or a combination of both. Drop heaping tablespoons of cookie dough into the mixture and roll around until the dough is completely coated in the sugar mixture.
Place the sugar coated cookie dough balls on non-stick or parchment lined baking sheets and bake in a 350 degree oven for 11-12 minutes.
The cookies are done when they are puffed and the dough no longer appears wet on top. Transfer the baking sheet onto a cooling rack and allow the cookies to cool until they form little cracks over the top and the cookies are fully set when you pick them up.
Before we discuss how fabulous these cookies are, let’s talk about what garam masala adds to them.
I have always been a fan of the combination of chocolate and warm spices like chai and pumpkin spice. My chocolate chai cupcakes are one of my favorites and garam masala reminds me of a slightly more spicy blend that leans a little more savory than sweet. Combining this beautiful spice blend with chocolate is something that needs to happen more often and once you taste these cookies, you may just fall in love with this combination too…
These cookies are very special. They have a chewy texture with a crunchy sugar coating similar to a snickerdoodle and the chocolate flavor is bold and perfectly balanced by the subtly sweet, slightly spicy, salty, umami filled garam masala.
If you love warm spices and chocolate then I would love for you to try these cookies.
Chocolate Garam Masala Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup of butter, room temperature
- 1 cup of brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup of cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon of espresso powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of garam masala
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup of granulated sugar (for coating the cookies)
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, garam masala or both (for coating the cookies)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
- In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup of room temperature butter, 1 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar using an electric hand mixer or a stiff whisk
- Add a large egg and a teaspoon of vanilla extract and whisk vigorously until fully combined
- Add 2 cups of all purpose flour, 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of espresso powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons of garam masala and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and mix until just combined
- In a separate bowl, combine 1/3 cup of granulated sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon or garam masala
- Roll about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough into balls, roll generously in the cinnamon sugar and transfer onto a nonstick or parchment lined baking sheet leaving 2 inches between each
- Bake for 11-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven and then transfer the cookies onto a cooling rack
- Allow the cookies to cool until fully set on the baking sheet
