Mom's Chocolate Cookie Log

Catherine gave me a box of Girl Scout chocolate mint cookies, which started my mind going, usually a bad sign. The cookies reminded me of Mom's chocolate cookie log: black cookies from the store formed togthter into a log using whipped cream. WOuldn't some mint make this even better? Unfortunately, I couldn't use the Girl Scout cookies as-is---Mom reminded me that the log needs to sit in the refrigerator to allow the whipped cream to soak into and soften the cookies. I thought about scraping one side but eventually decided to make my own cookies.

Dorie Greenspan's World Peace Cookies is a famous recipe. Because I am clueless, I didn't know abuot it until the past week. It seemed to be the perfect cookie for this effort. I sifted together the flour, cocoa, and baking soda.

I creamed together the brown sugar and butter.

Eventually, all the ingredients---including a few drops of peppermint oil---went into the bowl.

I divided the dough into two. The recipe starts with a warning that the texture can vary widely but I found this batch to have a perfectly fine texture.

I rolled each half into a log, wrapped each one in plastic wrap, and put them in the freezer for about two hours.

The freezer left the logs firm but not hard. I cut them into relatively thick pieces and spaced them far apart on baking sheets.

The cookies spread quite a bit during baking. Making the cookies was just the first step in the logging process.

I whipped up a batch of whipped cream, once again including a few drops of peppermint oil.

I decided to stack my cookies vertically; I really don't know how Mom managed to keep them standing as a horizontal log. I coated each side of each cookie with whipped cream.

Fearing a Leaning Tower of Pizza, I created two stacks.

I then coated each stack with a layer of whipped cream.

I then sprinkled some chopped chocolate around each log for both flavor and visual appeal.

Catherine and I agreed the result was pretty good. However, the original form of this dish, making use of pre-baked cookies, is an example of the classic Midcentury Modern form of cooking in which manufactured items are combined to make a simple dish with visual pizzaz. Making your own cookies removes this log from that easy category. There are other uses to which chocolate cookies and whipped cream can be made that require fewer civil engineering skills---think chocolate cookie trifle in a big mug.

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