Crunchy, Gooey & Rich Snickers Cookies!

These Snickers cookies came as a result of day dreaming about what I wanted to eat. Crunchy double chocolate cookies are richly studded with milk and dark chocolate chips and roasted peanuts. They're blanketed with a layer of peanut butter salted caramel and then a layer of chocolate. Then, as a final adornment, there are more roasted peanuts, Snickers bar slices and chopped mud cake chocolate pieces! And Dear Reader, this is definitely a pushy recipe!

Long time readers may have already guessed one thing: I love Snickers flavoured anything. Which is ironic because I find actual Snickers bars quite disappointing. I always wish that the chocolate was better or that it was less coarse in texture but I adore the combination of chocolate, peanuts and caramel.

One day I was doing some enforced relaxation. I had been travelling a lot in June and while my heart is used to beating a million beats an hour (I call it excitement), Mr NQN had other ideas. "Do nothing and relax," he said to me for the umpteenth time. So I pretended to relax but instead I day dreamed the next thing I wanted to cook. It was these Dear Reader.

I turned on the computer and watched Netflix for a bit (again this charade of trying to relax is hard ;) ). I switched on a comedy special a friend Celia had recommended called Nanette. You may have already heard the buzz that it is comedian Hannah Gadsby's tour de force. I don't want to ruin things by giving it away but it is truly incandescent and skilful comedy, tragedy and back to comedy.

In the last year, especially with all the insanity in this world, I've found myself watching a lot of stand up specials on tv because we need comic relief. We need to laugh. I thought you might too so I've got some recommendations for those of you that have Netflix (not sponsored). I also really enjoyed The Comedy Line-up, an 8 part special with 8 up and coming comedians where they do a quick 15 minute set. And I also really loved "Private School Negro" by W. Kamau Bell and "Warn Your Relatives" by Hari Kondabolu. Sometimes I just put them on in the background while I cook and they always make me laugh, feel and smile.

So tell me Dear Reader, have you watched Nanette? What did you think of it? Do you feel like you watch more comedy or stand up comedy? And do you like Snickers bar or Snickers flavoured things?

Snickers Cookies

An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Makes around 16 cookies

• 180g/6ozs. butter, softened
• 1/2 cup caster or superfine sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon bicarb of soda
• 200g/7ozs. milk and dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 Snickers bar, sliced up To decorate

• 3 Snickers bars

• 1/2 cup rice malt syrup
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, liquid
• 3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
• 150g/5ozs. chocolate
• 1/4 cup roasted peanuts
• Other chocolate bars or chocolate pearls

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 190C/384F and line 3 cookie sheets with parchment. Beat the butter and two sugars in a bowl for 5 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. In a bowl or jug whisk the flour, cocoa and bicarb and then add to the bowl along with the chocolate chips, peanuts and vanilla and beat on the lowest speed until just combined.

Step 2 - Make walnut sized balls and flatten leaving an inch between cookies. Top with a slice of Snickers bar. Bake for 12 minutes and then cool.

Step 3 - Make the peanut butter caramel. Place the malt syrup, coconut oil and peanut butter in a blender and whizz until smooth. Melt the chocolate. Dollop some caramel on top and then some chocolate and add the peanuts, Snickers slices and chocolate bar/pearls. I loved these from the fridge but they are also delicious when warm from the oven.