These little chocolate delights come from my cookie idol, Ann Chargin. Like a one-woman Italian bakery, she creates stunning cookies and confections that turn a dessert tray into a work of fine art. Fortunately, one of her favorites, fudgy Austrian chocolate balls, is easy enough for any of us to make. What\u2019s more, its glaze stays so beautifully glossy that we now use it for dipping other types of cookies, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A powerhouse in everything she does, Ann has baked many thousands of specialty cookies for weddings and other milestones over the years. Two years ago she gave a chic mixed bag of cookies, spiced nuts and toffee to each of her 120 guests\u2014at her 100th birthday party.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This Austrian chocolate ball was among those in that goodie bag, and Ann gets frequent requests for the recipe. She says she found it in a collection of cookies of the world, maybe from Pillsbury, about 50 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s so easy,\u201d she says. \u201cHow many cookies do you make where you don\u2019t have to take out your mixer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A great judge of cookies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ann Chargin, my husband Dan\u2019s paternal aunt, could have made her name solely from her fabulous cookies and cakes. But she gained her notoriety as a pioneer in the field of law. She became Stockton, California’s first woman judge when Governor Gerry Brown appointed her to the Stockton Municipal Court Bench in 1975.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it wasn\u2019t easy to break through the barriers for women. Like her Italian immigrant parents, Ann carved her way to success with brains, optimism, and inexhaustible energy. She started out coaching champion roller-skaters in her home state of Massachusetts. With a move to California, she pursued law. And, like everything she does, she nailed it. Last year, at age 101, she received the prestigious Law Day Award from the San Joaquin Bar Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Christmas, Ann is in full production mode, making her annual Buche de Noel showstopper Yule log, a cheesecake, a couple more desserts, and decorated cutout cookies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just thinking of all that work makes me tired. But I’m happy to get off easy with these glazed chocolate nuggets. Thanks, Ann\u2014your recipe is a sweet gift.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chocolate Glaze<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Heat chocolate and butter on the stovetop or in the microwave until chocolate has barely melted. Remove from heat. Add other ingredients and blend well. If glaze thickens and dulls, briefly reheat and stir to get gloss back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yield: 4 dozen<\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These little chocolate delights come from my cookie idol, Ann Chargin. Like a one-woman Italian bakery, she creates stunning cookies and confections that turn a dessert tray into a work of fine art. Fortunately, one of her favorites, fudgy Austrian chocolate balls, is easy enough for any of us to make. What\u2019s more, its glaze stays so beautifully glossy that we now use it for dipping other types of cookies, too. A powerhouse in everything she does, Ann has baked many thousands of specialty cookies for weddings and other milestones over the years. Two years ago she gave a chic mixed bag of cookies, spiced nuts and toffee to each of her 120 guests\u2014at her 100th birthday party. This Austrian chocolate ball was among those in that goodie bag, and Ann gets frequent requests for the recipe. She says she found it in a collection of cookies of the world, maybe from Pillsbury, about 50 years ago. \u201cIt\u2019s so easy,\u201d she says. \u201cHow many cookies do you make where you don\u2019t have to take out your mixer?\u201d A great judge of cookies Ann Chargin, my husband Dan\u2019s paternal aunt, could have made her name solely from her fabulous cookies and cakes. But she gained her notoriety as a pioneer in the field of law. She became Stockton, California’s first woman judge when Governor Gerry Brown appointed her to the Stockton Municipal Court Bench in 1975. But it wasn\u2019t easy to break through the barriers for women. Like her Italian immigrant parents, Ann carved her way to success with brains, optimism, and inexhaustible energy. She started out coaching champion roller-skaters in her home state of Massachusetts. With a move to California, she pursued law. And, like everything she does, she nailed it. Last year, at age 101, she received the prestigious Law Day Award from the San Joaquin Bar Association. This Christmas, Ann is in full production mode, making her annual Buche de Noel showstopper Yule log, a cheesecake, a couple more desserts, and decorated cutout cookies. Just thinking of all that work makes me tired. But I’m happy to get off easy with these glazed chocolate nuggets. Thanks, Ann\u2014your recipe is a sweet gift. Aunt Ann Chargin’s Austrian Chocolate Balls 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate \u2153 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg plus 1 yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla \u00bd teaspoon almond extract (optional, to add almond flavor if using walnuts) 1 \u2153 cups flour \u00bd cup finely chopped almonds or walnuts In a saucepan over low heat, combine the chocolate and butter. Heat until just melted. Remove from heat. (Or, microwave in a bowl until butter is melted and chocolate has almost completely melted. Stir to finish melting chocolate in the hot butter.) Be careful not to overcook the chocolate\u2014that\u2019s Ann\u2019s only caution for this recipe. Stir in sugar, egg, egg yolk, vanilla and optional almond extract into chocolate mixture and blend well. Gradually stir in flour and nuts until well combined. Shape dough into \u00be-inch balls. Place onto ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake at 350\u00b0 F for about 8-12 minutes, until firm to the touch. Do not overbake. Remove from cookie sheet immediately. Make chocolate glaze. Dip tops into the glaze and let set for a few minutes. Cookies freeze well. Chocolate Glaze 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup powdered sugar 2-3 tablespoons milk Heat chocolate and butter on the stovetop or in the microwave until chocolate has barely melted. Remove from heat. Add other ingredients and blend well. If glaze thickens and dulls, briefly reheat and stir to get gloss back. Yield: 4 dozen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,5],"tags":[1028,1027],"class_list":["post-8684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cookies","category-desserts","tag-ann-chargin","tag-austrian-chocolate-nut-balls"],"yoast_head":"\nAunt Ann Chargin’s Austrian Chocolate Balls<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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