advent day 8 - Beth Cato

Today's guest is Beth Cato.

Baking is a very dangerous hobby, especially when you're a writer working from home. During those quiet moments when revisions aren't quite coming together, those cookies in the kitchen begin to talk. "Eat me and you'll feel better," they say, their tone as seductive as the snake speaking to Eve.

This recipe creates Heath cookies, and they don't whisper. They scream to be eaten and enjoyed, and even at Christmastime they can be heard above the fray. Consider yourself warned. Don't be home alone with them or by January you'll be carrying some extra padding to keep you warm.

Heath Cookies

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

¾ cup white sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups Heath or other toffee brand, in pieces (either a bag of chips or approx 11 ounces chopped candy bars)

Optional: add more chopped milk chocolate

1. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.

2. Cream butter until fluffy, then add the sugars and continue beating until it’s fluffy again. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Take turns adding the Heath bits and flour to sugar mixture until it’s all well blended. Chill the dough for an hour.

4. Preheat the oven to 350-degrees. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and set on the cookie sheet.

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Remove from oven and let cool for several minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

Beth Cato is a writer of fantasy, science fiction, poetry, and essays. She bakes evil, naughty cookies that destroy diets and cause much weeping and gnashing of teeth when it's time to step on the scale. You can read more of her writing (and find the occasional recipe) at bethcato.com