Compost Cookies Recipe

The compost cookie has nothing to do with garbage. It's a butter and brown sugar cookie loaded with bits of candy and snack food. It sounds strange but it tastes divine. Invented by Christina Tosi, the sugar genius behind Momofuku Milk Bar, the cookie has become an Internet sensation. It's no wonder. It's a brilliant idea and a truly decadent dessert. But what if you want to put your own spin on it? The compost cookie can be your edible canvas. The recipe is easy to alter to any specifications or cravings. But do take care. A loaded compost cookie can go from delicious to disgusting in a flash.

Recipe courtesy of Samantha Seneviratne

Total: 2 hr 35 min
Active: 40 min

Yield: About 2 1/2 dozen cookies

Level: Easy

Ingredients

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup Rice Chex cereal
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground coffee
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate (around 60 percent cacao)
1/2 cup honey-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dried sour cherries, chopped
1/2 cup lightly crushed salted potato chips
Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, toss together the oats, Chex cereal, the 2 tablespoons melted butter and 1/8 teaspoon of the salt. Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet and bake until deep golden brown and fragrant, about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through the baking time.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, coffee, baking soda and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, mix together the 10 tablespoons room-temperature butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until creamy. Stir in the egg and vanilla. Then carefully fold in the chocolate, peanuts, sour cherries, potato chips and the oat and Chex mixture. Scoop the dough into 2-tablespoon scoops and roll each one into a neat ball. Freeze the dough balls for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Set the dough balls at least 3 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets and sprinkle with the flaky sea salt. Bake until the cookies are golden brown and the centers are just set, 18 to 22 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Recipe courtesy of Samantha Seneviratne