RECIPE FOR CHOC BALLS RECIPES

Steps:

• Warm 175ml water in a saucepan until steaming, then add the butter and set aside to cool until warm but not hot. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl or tabletop mixer. Add the cooled water and mix to make a soft dough. Knead for 10 mins by hand, or for 5 mins in a mixer, until the dough feels bouncy and smooth. Return to a clean, oiled bowl and cover with oiled cling film. Leave somewhere warm to rise for 1½-2 hrs, or until doubled in size.
• Oil a baking sheet. Knock the air out of the dough and knead again for several mins. Take a small piece of dough (about the size of a walnut) and roll it into a ball. Place the ball on the baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the dough balls about ½ cm apart. Cover and leave to rise for 30 mins. Meanwhile, to make the garlic butter, melt the butter in a pan, then stir in the garlic. Season.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. The dough balls should be almost touching by now. Bake for 25-30 mins until cooked through. Brush with some of the garlic butter and leave to cool for 5 mins. Serve with the remaining garlic butter and a selection of crudités and cured meat, if you like.

Steps:

• Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
• Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
• When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
• Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.