Buddha Bellies

Yummy huge moist cookies that you eat for good luck. These are so named not because they will puff up like a 'belly' shape when baked, but because these are so good, if you don't eat them in moderation, YOU will! Some folks have even been known to shout.... "I want a Buddha Belly!" ;)

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup cake flour
• 1  tablespoon cake flour
• 1  tablespoon baking powder
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 1  tablespoon instant coffee powder
• 1  tablespoon boiling water
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 7  ounces  unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 6  ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter
• 7  large eggs
• 2 3⁄4 cups sugar
• 2  cups walnuts, chopped
• 1 1⁄2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or use non-stick cooking spray. Sift flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside.
2. In another bowl, combine the instant coffee and boiling water to make a paste. Blend in the vanilla extract. Set aside.
3. Melt the chopped Unsweetened Chocolate, chopped Bittersweet Chocolate and the butter in a saucepan over medium low heat or in the microwave for 15 to 20 second intervals. Gently stir to blend.
4. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together the eggs, sugar and coffee paste mixture on high speed until light in texture and thick, 6 to 8 minute.
5. Add the chocolate mixture with the machine running on medium speed. On low speed mix in the dry ingredients until just blended. Mix in the walnuts and chocolate chips to blend. Scrape down the bowl as needed during mixing to blend evenly.
6. Using a 1/4 cup-measuring scoop fill it with dough, level, and drop the dough on to a prepared cookie sheet leaving 3 to 4 inches between the cookies. Bake (in batches if neccessary) until the cookies are cracked on top but still slightly moist, about 14 minutes.
7. Allow the cookies to cool slightly on the cookie sheet before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.