Salted Chocolate Lace Cookies Recipe

The Best Salted Chocolate Lace Cookies Recipe for Sweet Cravings

Delicate and crisp salted chocolate lace cookies dance between sweet and savory sensations that challenge traditional dessert expectations.

Whispers of sea salt complement rich cocoa undertones in each impossibly thin, translucent wafer.

Chocolate lovers will swoon over these ethereal treats that shatter like delicate glass.

Each fragile cookie carries deep flavor complexity with minimal ingredients.

Intricate patterns emerge during baking, creating magical designs that look almost too beautiful to consume.

Crafting these elegant morsels requires precision and a gentle touch.

Dive into this delightful recipe and surprise yourself with a confection that feels like edible art.

Salted Chocolate Lace Cookies: Delicate & Decadent

  • Elevate Baking Skill: Perfect for home bakers wanting to impress with professional-looking delicate cookies that seem complicated but are surprisingly simple to create.
  • Quick Gourmet Treat: Minimal ingredients and super fast preparation time (under 30 minutes) make these elegant cookies an effortless dessert for spontaneous sweet cravings.
  • Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Customizable with different chocolate drizzles, nut toppings, and perfect for multiple occasions like parties, afternoon tea, or elegant dessert presentations.
  • Texture Sensation: Delivers incredible contrast between crispy, lacy edges and rich chocolate coating, providing a sophisticated sensory experience that delights taste buds with every delicate bite.

Elements of Salted Chocolate Lace Cookies

Base Ingredients:
  • Almond Flour, Sweetened Condensed Milk: Provides the foundation for a delicate, light cookie base with rich, sweet undertones.
  • Butter: Adds nutty, toasted flavor when browned, creating depth and richness in the cookie.
  • Water: Helps adjust the cookie dough consistency for proper spreading.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm, sweet aromatic notes.
Chocolate and Topping Ingredients:
  • Chocolate, White Chocolate: Creates a luxurious binding and decorative element for the sandwich cookies.
  • Flaked Sea Salt, Chopped Pistachios: Provides a crunchy texture and contrasting flavor to the sweet cookies.
Optional Finishing Ingredients:
  • Additional Chocolate: Allows for decorative drizzling and extra chocolate flavor.

How to Bake Salted Chocolate Lace Cookies

Step 1: Brown the Butter

Place butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Watch carefully as it melts and transforms into a golden-brown liquid with a rich, nutty aroma.

This process takes about 2-3 minutes.

Once browned, remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

Step 2: Mix the Cookie Base

Grab a mixing bowl and combine these ingredients:
  • Almond flour
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Vanilla extract
  • Browned butter
  • Water

Stir the mixture until it becomes completely smooth.

The consistency should be thin and easily pourable, almost like a delicate batter.

Step 3: Prepare for Baking

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Using a teaspoon, carefully drop small amounts of batter onto the sheet.

Space each dollop about 3 inches apart to allow room for spreading.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 7-8 minutes.

Look for edges that turn a beautiful golden brown color.

This indicates the cookies are perfectly crisp and delicate.

Step 5: Cool and Rest

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.

This helps them firm up and become easier to handle.

Gently transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 6: Create Chocolate Sandwiches

Melt chocolate and use it as a creamy filling between two cookies.

For an extra touch of elegance, drizzle additional chocolate on top.

Sprinkle with flaked sea salt or chopped pistachios for a gourmet finish.

Step 7: Store with Care

Keep these delicate cookies in an airtight container.

They’ll stay fresh and crisp for up to 4 days – if they last that long!

  • Take time to brown the butter carefully, watching for a golden color and nutty aroma to enhance the cookie's depth of flavor.
  • Use a teaspoon measure and leave plenty of room between cookies, as they will spread significantly during baking.
  • Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before moving them to prevent breaking the delicate lace-like texture.
  • Choose high-quality dark or milk chocolate for sandwiching and drizzling to elevate the overall taste experience.
  • Use flaky sea salt as a final garnish to create a beautiful contrast with the sweet chocolate and enhance the cookie's complex flavor profile.

Storing Salted Chocolate Lace Cookies Properly

  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking, keeping them fresh for 4-5 days.
  • Keep cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for optimal crispness, away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
  • Layer cookies between wax paper in a freezer-safe container, storing up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.
  • Briefly warm cookies in a 300°F oven for 2-3 minutes to restore crispness, watching carefully to prevent burning.

Rich Matches For Chocolate Lace

  • Pair with Luxurious Coffee: Brew a rich espresso or dark roast coffee that complements the cookie's deep chocolate and nutty almond notes, enhancing the dessert's complex flavor profile.
  • Matching Dessert Wine: Select a sweet Pedro Ximénez sherry or Port wine, whose caramel and raisin undertones beautifully balance the salted chocolate's richness and provide a decadent drinking experience.
  • Elevate with Creamy Accompaniment: Serve alongside a small scoop of vanilla bean gelato or a dollop of mascarpone cream, which will soften the cookie's crisp texture and add a silky counterpoint to the salty-sweet sensation.
  • Create a Flavor Symphony: Garnish with candied orange peel or a sprinkle of toasted pistachios, introducing bright citrus notes or nutty crunch that dance perfectly with the chocolate lace cookie's delicate structure.
  • Gluten-Free Version: Replace almond flour with gluten-free flour blend or coconut flour for those with wheat sensitivities.
  • Vegan Adaptation: Swap sweetened condensed milk with coconut condensed milk and use dairy-free chocolate for coating and drizzling.
  • Nut-Free Option: Substitute almond flour with oat flour or sunflower seed flour for individuals with nut allergies.
  • Low-Sugar Alternative: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia in place of sweetened condensed milk to reduce overall sugar content.

FAQs

  • What makes the browned butter important in this recipe?

Browning butter enhances the flavor by creating a nutty, toasted taste that adds depth and richness to the cookie’s overall flavor profile, making it more complex and delicious.

  • Can I substitute almond flour with regular flour?

No, almond flour is crucial for creating the delicate, lacy texture of these cookies. Using regular flour will change the cookie’s structure and result in a completely different texture and outcome.

  • How thin should the cookie batter be?

The batter should be very thin and pourable, similar to a light pancake batter. If it’s too thick, the cookies won’t spread and create the signature lace-like appearance.

  • Why do I need to space the cookies 3 inches apart?

The cookies spread significantly while baking, so spacing them allows each cookie to develop its delicate, thin, and crispy texture without touching or merging with neighboring cookies.

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Salted Chocolate Lace Cookies Recipe

Salted Chocolate Lace Cookies Recipe


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4.8 from 17 reviews

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Delicate and crisp salted chocolate lace cookies deliver a sophisticated dance of sweet and salty flavor profiles. Chocolate lovers will delight in these elegant, paper-thin treats that melt effortlessly on the tongue, promising a refined dessert experience you’ll savor.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces (340 grams) dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate, melted
  • 3/4 cup (90 grams) almond flour
  • 4 tablespoons (57 grams) salted butter

Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers:

  • 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Optional Decorations:

  • Flaked sea salt
  • Chopped pistachios
  • Melted white chocolate

Instructions

  1. Prepare workspace by setting the oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal cookie preparation.
  2. Create a nutty, rich flavor profile by heating butter in a saucepan until it transforms into a golden-brown color with a toasted fragrance, approximately 2-3 minutes.
  3. Craft the delicate cookie batter by combining almond flour, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, the browned butter, and water in a mixing bowl until achieving a smooth, thin consistency perfect for lace-like cookies.
  4. Carefully dispense small dollops of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, positioning each cookie with generous spacing to allow for elegant spreading during baking.
  5. Bake the delicate cookies until their edges transform into a beautiful golden-brown hue, typically requiring 7-8 minutes of oven time.
  6. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, enabling them to firm up slightly before transferring to a wire cooling rack for complete cooling.
  7. Elevate the cookies’ visual and flavor appeal by creating sandwich cookies with melted chocolate, then embellish with additional chocolate drizzles and a sophisticated sprinkle of flaked sea salt or chopped pistachios.
  8. Preserve the cookies’ delicate texture by storing them in an airtight container, where they will maintain their quality for up to 4 days.

Notes

  • Achieve golden brown butter carefully by watching the color and listening for subtle sizzling sounds, which indicate perfect toasting without burning.
  • Keep cookie spacing consistent using a small measuring spoon or template to ensure even, professional-looking delicate lace cookies.
  • Adapt for gluten-free diets by confirming almond flour is certified gluten-free and using dairy-free chocolate alternatives if needed.
  • Control cookie thickness by adjusting batter consistency – thinner batter creates more translucent, delicate cookies while slightly thicker batter produces sturdier results.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 150
  • Sugar: 8 g
  • Sodium: 100 mg
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 10 mg
Daniel Bruns

Daniel Bruns

Founder & Culinary Innovator

Expertise

Recipe development for home cooks, Nutritional analysis and meal planning, Culinary education and food writing

Education

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations
Focus: Classical and contemporary cooking techniques, Culinary entrepreneurship and kitchen management, Menu development and food cost analysis


Daniel’s story started with flour on his face and a pie in the oven at his grandma’s house. He later sharpened his skills at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
His goal? Recipes so simple you’ll want to cook every night. When he’s not whipping up one-pan wonders, Daniel’s outside picking herbs, hosting neighborhood cook-offs, or baking chocolate cakes with his kids, messy, sweet, and unforgettable.

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