Nibby Buckwheat Cookies

Do you have craving for certain type of food when the season changes? I crave for cookies this time of the year. The warm cookies, fresh from the oven, plated beside a cup of steaming hot coffee is a perfect companion while I read. There's an undescribable comfort in the process of baking cookies on a chilly day. Perhaps it's the endearing warmth radiated from the oven, or the heady aroma that wafts through the room when the cookies are almost done. Or the sense of satisfaction, having made something from scratch in a short span of time. Or the fake sense of self reassurance, of having done something useful (and edible) after hibernating for a long while.

The nibby buckwheat cookies is from one of my favorite authors- Alice Medrich's latest book- Pure Dessert. When I first read about it on Veronica's blog, I know I want to make it. But I sat on it longer than I should. I bought the required buckwheat flour months ago with the sole purpose of making these cookies, yet I procrastinated. Maybe I was hoping OCT's playmobils will come alive at night, while I was sleeping, and declared "let's make something awesome together, we can make the most delicious buckwheat cacao nibs cookies ever known to this household!" and the next morning, I was woken up by the smell of freshly baked cookies.That would be nice. That is exactly what those playmobils lying in the corner of my bedroom should be doing - be useful.

Before you think I have gone crazy and shut this window close, let me say one last thing- make these cookies! They are awesome. Bake it, seriously.You can't buy them anywhere. And even if you have friends who are bakers, like me, forget about them. They wouldn't share with you, even if they have every good intention to. Like I did, I baked a batch, almost handed them to OCT lab, but I changed my mind after I slept on it. And guess where all the cookies went in the end?

If you don't want to buy the buckwheat flour, I find these cookies to be equally excellent. They are great with walnut, and I have made them a couple of times already. In case you are wondering about the fate of the remaining buckwheat flour, its destiny lies in the Nibby Buckwheat Cookies. Maybe I will try to share some next time. :)

Nibby Buckwheat Butter Cookies
adopted from Alice Medrich's Pure Dessert

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup buckwheat flour
1/2 pound unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cacao nibs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whisk together all purpose flour and buckwheat flours in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, with the back of a large spoon or with a electric mixer, beat the butter with sugar and salt for about 1 minute, until smooth and creamy but not fluffy. Mix in the nibs and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix just until incorporated. Do not overmix.

Form the dough into a 12 x 2 inch log. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. Alternatively, you can freeze the dough, and slice the desired pieces to have fresh cookies when the craving strikes.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the dough log into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place the cookies at least 1.5inches apart on a baking sheet.

Bake until the cookies are just beginning to color around the edges, 12- 14 minutes. Cool the cookies in the pan on the rack. The cookies are delicious fresh, but get better with time. They can be stored in an airtight container,for up to 1 month.

make 48 cookies.