RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA TUNIS AND AMBER TURPIN
Make these spicy, sophisticated cookies for the adults in your life
Season of sweetness and warming spices. Season of gathered friends and abundant serving platters. Season of giving and receiving, season of evergreen needles and lit candles. Cookie season, that’s what it is. These recipes complement each other so beautifully, arranged on a platter, it’s hard to pick just one as a favorite. Luckily, you don’t have to. Want to be the star of the annual cookie exchange? We have you covered here.
GLUTEN FREE TAHINI CHUNK BLONDIES
RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA TUNIS AND AMBER TURPIN
These are so good, you don’t miss the gluten one bit. Rich sesame flavor, chocolate chunks and dense texture satisfy and delight.
CONIFER NEEDLE SHORTBREAD
RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA TUNIS AND AMBER TURPIN
What a delicious way to celebrate our local, native conifers! Make sure you can identify the tree you want to use, as some trees with needles, like yew, are not safe to ingest. Our local douglas fir, coast redwood and various species of pines are all delicious in their own way, though; nibble some foliage to get a sense of the flavor, if you are unsure. Mincing the needles finely lets the flavors release into the buttery dough, while the texture remains smooth.
GINGERSNAPS
RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA TUNIS AND AMBER TURPIN
They’re classic for a reason, but this recipe takes them to the next level. Spicy not only from the ginger, but also from the complementary heats of cayenne and ground pepper. Crispy as a gingersnap should be; the melted butter helps with that, and the small amount of milk adds just enough moisture to help bind together the relatively dry dough. While pressing the just-baked cookies down with a glass is unusual, it helps make them denser and crispier—a worthwhile extra step.
SPICY CHOCOLATE BITES
RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA TUNIS AND AMBER TURPIN
Dense, dark nuggets with unexpected heat from cayenne and black pepper, these chonky darlings will warm you from the inside out.
About the author
Amber Turpin and Jessica Tunis live with their respective families in the green folds of the Santa Cruz Mountains. They share a love of food and writing, adventure and good company. Their collaborations on these pages are a natural extension of many good times spent together, gathered in kitchens and backyards near and far.
