So have you been to Nantucket yet? This is one place you just can’t miss. Add it to the bucket list. Nantucket is that charming island floating thirty miles south of Cape Cod, off the Massachusetts’ coast. Quaint, coastal, and oozing New England, Nantucket is where I want to be in summertime, feeling those cool ocean breezes.
Nantucket Bike Path Cookies are what you need in your picnic hamper at potlucks, picnics and band concerts this summer. (Even better, stow ’em in your bike basket exploring Nantucket’s meandering bike paths.)
There’s not one drop of vanilla extract in this recipe. Nope. And you won’t miss it.
Cognac instead.
Yeah. And uh huh.
It’s a nice trade, cognac for vanilla extract. The cognac bumps these cookies up a notch, gives ’em a fantastic flavor. Sophisticated and Nantucket worthy.
There’s butter. And dark chocolate chunks. And broken pecans or walnuts. This cookie dough is so tempting… (True confession, I did succumb.) These fabulous cookies are buttery and chocolaty with an old fashioned crunch to beat the band.
The Nantucket Bike Path Cookies recipe comes from Zaitzeff in New York City. I made just a few minor tweaks to it. This is an all butter recipe. Gulp. And because of that, they spread big time.
So you’ll need to refrigerate the cookie dough well before baking or the cookies spread too thin on the edges, look like those above. You don’t want that. Also give plenty of space for baking. I cook 8 on a pan I’d normally cook 12 on.
Hope you love these fabulous Nantucket Bike Path Cookies…
This batch was for our local community music school’s bake sale…Score!
Nantucket Bike Path Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon cognac
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup Paul Newman's dark chocolate or other good dark chocolate broken into pieces
- 1/2 cup walnut or pecans broken
Instructions
- Use all organic ingredients if possible.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream butter.
- Gradually add sugars.
- Beat 'til well mixed.
- Add egg and cognac.
- Beat.
- Stir together flour, baking soda, salt.
- Stir into the batter.
- Add chocolate and nuts.
- Drop dough by the tablespoon onto a greased cookie sheet (or use parchment paper), spacing well, these really spread.
- Refrigerate each panful for 15 minutes or 'til dough balls are firm before baking.
- Bake 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven, 'til edges are browned and center is baked.
Notes
Let me know if you bake these cookies. Also if you have any great Nantucket memories, do share…
Yankee Kitchen Ninja (Julianne) says
Ooooh, I really want to make these — PRONTO!
Susie says
These sound divine and, yes, Nantucket is on the bucket list (sounds like a song). =)
Barbara Child says
Very delightful sounding! Don’t think I’ve ever been to Nantucket. Should go this summer!
Tracy says
Ooooo…. My kind of cookie. You had me with the name!!!
aunt pinkie says
The choc chunks look huge- do you break them up?
Allie says
Good point! I initially chopped the chocolate for the picture, but some chunks were a little big… I did cut some smaller before adding into the dough, but I do like big chocolate chunks in my cookies.:)
Amie says
And who doesn’t like huge chocolate chunks in their cookies?!
Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek says
I have a dream…..
I’ve always (ok for seven years) wanted to take a field trip to the New England area and see all the sites we studied in US History.
A stash of these cookies to eat along the way would make it even better… and probably the only part of the trip that would be affordable. 🙂
Catherine says
Dear Allie, I love the sound of these cookies…a great idea to switch the vanilla out for cognac. Nantucket is such a beautiful place. Maybe if I can find time to getaway this summer, the family and I will take a ride up there. It isn’t too far either.
Nevertheless, I will definitely be making these cookies. xo, Catherine
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Ooooo my…sneaking Cognac in cookies (with lots of butter) – what a great idea! 🙂 And, I bet they taste amazing too. And that is a beautiful photo of Nantucket!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
Wow these look fantastic Allie! I’ve never been to Nantucket but I would love to get over there someday!
Ellen says
these look amazing!!
Cynthia/What A Girl Eats says
Very intriguing!
Heather says
wishing I was in the island with a basket of these lovelies right now
Sara says
I’ve gone almost every summer for the past 20 years with my mom. It’s one of my favorite places and nowhere else like it!
Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Allie says
Sounds like heaven Sara! I haven’t been to Nantucket in some time and I really want to go back. So good for you and your mom, and thanks for stopping by.
Kim - Liv Life says
No… I haven’t been to Nantucket!! And yes, it’s totally on my bucket list. Along with the East Coast!! I actually lived in Louisville, KY for a few years, but I’ve never really made it much East of there. Well, except for a trip to Florida.
And when I do finally get there, I think I’d love a batch of these cookies!! They are baked just how I like them.
Allie says
Kim – you would love New England! I hope you get to visit someday. Nantucket is one of the most beautiful place on earth IMHO. lol
Tracy says
I still have not made these. Thanks for reposting! Nantucket is one of my very favorite places in the whole world! I first went there with my family the summer after I graduated from college. What a beautiful, magical island. I met my husband there and the rest is history! Allie we need to go for a visit! A batch of Nantucket Bike Path Cookies in hand, of course!