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Today, it’s easy to find all kinds of chocolate treats—whether it’s cookies, ice cream, or cake. But this wasn’t always the case. For a long time, hot drinks were the most popular way to consume chocolate. In fact, it would have been very hard to find any chocolatey baked goods before the late 19th century. Which is why a chocolate cookie is the perfect Gilded Age recipe!
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This one comes 1886 and only involves three ingredients: chocolate, eggs, and sugar. And if you're looking for more Gilded Age recipes, check out Becky Libourel Diamond’s The Gilded Age Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from America's Golden Era.
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Left: An advertisement for cocoa powder from 1890. Image credit: The Library of Congress. Right: Illustrations from Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes and Home Made Candy Recipes (1913) by Parloa and Hill. Image credit: Duke University Libraries.
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What You Need:
- 1 package (4 ounces) of unsweetened baking chocolate
- 3 egg whites
- 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar
- 1 glass bowl
- Sifter
- Spoon
- Parchment paper
- Cookie sheet
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Directions:
First, preheat your oven to 375 °F.
Now, you want to melt the chocolate. Break the chocolate into pieces and place the pieces into a glass bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds. Continue to heat for 30-second increments and stir in between until the chocolate is melted. Let the chocolate cool for 5 minutes.Â
Next, crack the eggs and separate out the egg whites. Take the egg whites and mix them with the cooled, melted chocolate. Then, sift in the sugar slowly, mixing until it forms a stiff dough.Â
Place a sheet of parchment paper on your cookie sheet. Now, take a spoon and scoop out balls of dough and place them on the cookie sheet.Â
Put the cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes. Once they’re cooked, let them cool before eating!Â
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If you want to learn more about the Gilded Age, don’t forget to check out our kids magazine! Explore this fascinating period of American history in Issue 24 | American Glitter.Â
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