We don’t do Halloween, but we have our own monsters. One of them is world famous. You see his heavy footprints throughout the world literature and arts, from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to The X- Files. You hear his eerie voice in Karel Capek’s R.U.R., where the word “robot” comes from, in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, recognizable as Gollum, and in Isaac Bashevis Singer’s The Golem which actually relates the old legend (or at least one of them).
It is said that Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the Maharal of Prague created a golem out of clay to protect the Jewish community from Blood Libel and to help out doing physical labor, since golems are very strong. Upon the Maharal’s demise, in 1609, the golem no longer functioned, thus it was stored in the attic of the Maharal’s Synagogue, known as the famous Staronova (Old-New) Synagoga of Prague and considered one of the most remarkable synagogues in Europe.
Today, it is still a functioning synagogue with a lively and vibrant community. Tours are conducted at the times free of services, of course, but the attic is off limits! My son, who visited it some time ago, was told that, even though the golem now is just a huge lifeless lump of clay, during the World War II some Nazi soldiers attempted to search the attic for hidden treasures and came out stark raving mad.
Since we are not nearly as holy and powerful as the Maharal of Prague, we’ll make our own monsters of spelt and whole wheat flour, rather than clay. To sweeten them, we’ll use light brown sugar and cinnamon, and to make them livelier, we’ll give them some coffee, walnuts, and a pinch of baking powder.
Let me remind you of my Rules of Dessert:
Rule # 1. If it’s not chocolate, it’s not dessert.
Rule # 2. The more chocolate, the better.
Both cocoa powder and chocolate chips are here, supported by Smart Balance, an egg (or a substitute, if you want to make it vegan), and vanilla. Just a splash of apple cider vinegar helps to make the monster cookies lighter.
Just like everything else, you mix your dry ingredients first, then introduce the wet ingredients. Don’t forget to grind your coffee beans to powdery espresso consistency! Mix it up and spoon onto a greased baking sheet, leaving about 1/2 inch (1 1/2 cm) between spoonfuls. Don’t worry about shaping them, as they will flatten down and spread sideways anyway, as you bake them. In about ten minutes, pull them out and sprinkle with cocoa powder. Bake for five more minutes or until soft but not sticky to the touch. Break into individual squares as soon as they have cooled off enough not to burn your fingers.
Here are my Chocolate Coffee ChoCo Monsters. They might look ugly – what do you expect from monsters, after all? – but they are very friendly to your tummy and totally scrumptious!
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup white spelt flour
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon espresso ground coffee
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup dairy free chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup Smart Balance or any butter substitute of your choice
- 1 egg or substitute
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- A splash of apple cider vinegar
- 1 – 2 tablespoons coconut milk, if needed
PROCEDURE
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Mix whole wheat flour, spelt flour, brown sugar, ground coffee, cinnamon, baking powder, chocolate chips and chopped walnuts.
- Whisk egg with Smart Balance, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, and salt. Gradually add to dry ingredients, mix thoroughly to avoid lumps. If the batter is too thick, add some coconut milk.
- Spoon onto baking sheet, leaving 1/2 inch (1 1/2 cm) between spoonfuls.
- Bake for 10 minutes, sprinkle with cocoa powder, and bake for 5 more minutes or until soft but not sticky to touch.
- Remove, cool slightly, and break into squares.
Enjoy!
Wonderful post 🙂 and best cookie recipe EVER!!
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Thank you so much – glad you like it!
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Wow! with coffee beans? That sounds like something that could put me on top of
the rafters. LOL
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Well, you have to grind them first, and then enjoy the view from the top of the rafters!
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Definitely!
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I loved learning about the history of the golem! Also, these treats sound delicious and I am going to have to add them to my holiday recipe list. Thank you so much for such a wonderful post!
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Thank you for your kind words – I am glad you like it!
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These look wonderful! This was another very interesting post with the Jewish history/Golem. BTW, my family doesn’t do Halloween either.
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Thank you! I don’t think I had more than a few minutes to look at them since my own Cookie Monster (my husband) kept eating while I kept looking!
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I bet they were snatched right off the cooling rack!
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You win!
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I’d eat the whole pan. Are you hoping to publish a cookbook?
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Working on it, yes.
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That’s great!
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Thank you 🙂
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I, too, loved learning about the history of the golem, but I’m sure those Nazi soldiers went INTO that attic stark raving mad. Dispicable members of a HORRIBLE party – the very idea of stealing from a synagogue!
I pray that America’s values hold fast during this time of “other” demonization from our supposed leaders.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
PS. The cookies sound delicious – and I’d be right there with your husband, matching him grab for grab!
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Let’s see how you match “grab for grab” when you finally come for a visit!
The first theft was from the Temple, executed by Titus and his 10th legion who packed up all the holy vessels from the Holy of Holies before destroying the actual Temple. The stolen objects are depicted on the triumphal ark you can see in Rome and are part of the Vatican treasury. Israel has been trying to get them back forever, but unsuccessfully, so far.
So who is surprised that the Nazis tried to do the same thing? Some of the pre-war holy objects from Poland surface on E-bay once in a while. What do you think their provenance could be?
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What little I know about this comes from fictionalized accounts on television shows with “recovery” themes, so I appreciate the education.
Good luck getting anything back from the Vatican treasury, but the chances are better with this Pope than any other. But E-bay? OMG!
xx,
mgh
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Reblogged this on koolkosherkitchen and commented:
Some quick Monster treats for you, Beautiful People – have fun!
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thank you for reblogging.
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Thank you very much, Dolly! Wonderful of you presenting also something for Halloween. We also do not celebrate it, but if its the children fun, they shall do. 😉 Michael
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That’s my feeling also: let everybody have fun any which way they want, as long as it’s not hurting anybody! The world is so full of tragedies that some fun is only beneficial for us.
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Как приятно было вновь услышать о пражском Големе),и великолепное печенье,А насчет забавы,эт день не столько забавы а памяти о всех ушедших,в том числе о тех,чьи тела не были найдены и похоронены вместе с родными и юлизкими,к кому на могшилу не могут прийти потомки,потому как неизвестно где она,или ее нет…Мне кажется нормальное отношение к подобным дням,это восстановление памяти народов,котрым внушили что у них нет корней,нет истории,которые порой даже боялись вспминать о своих предках.
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Совершенно с Вами согласна, и спасибо на добром слове.
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What’s spelt flour and what’s a “splash ” of cider apple vinegar in terms of regular measurements
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Spelt is a different kind of grain, like wheat, for instance, so spelt flour is flour made of spelt. It is considered much healthier, especially for people suffering from specific disorders. A splash, in my understanding, is a teaspoon, but in different climates, temperature, and humidity levels, if your batter is too thick (difficult to mix), you might want to add a little more liquid. It won’t hurt it, trust me!
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What if I can’t find spelt flour anywhere here ? Can I use regular flour ?
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Of course you can! I am using spelt and whole wheat flours because of my husband’s health.
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I love how you trace the golem’s tracks through history.
These look like just the cookie I need to make when I can’t decide on one flavor. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Miriam, for your kind words!
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You forgot to tell us to put ice cream between two of them before eating! The naughtiest part..They sound delicious. Luckily I’m visiting a friend who wouldn’t appreciate my messing up his kitchen.
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I haven’t thought of it, but it’s such a great idea! Thank you, Judy – next time I’ll definitely do it!
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No limit to depravity.
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LOL Let’s call it decadence – somewhat more refined.
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A much better word.
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Thank you, Judy! 😻
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Another fascinating history lesson and a delicious sounding treat.
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Thank you so much, dear Linda!
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Whoa. Sounds delish. I’ll have to try it out.
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Thank you so much, dear Samantha! Enjoy, and please let me know how it comes out!
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