My invitations have changed: now I bring cookies

Now that I’m in my thirties, I qualify for invitations to legitimate adult parties. Instead of pre-drinking, I now attend housewarming parties. Rather than Sunday sessions, I am invited to baby gender revealing celebrations. My Saturday afternoons are often taken up with first or second birthday parties, where I eat more lollies than the kids.

Lolly situation aside, I consider all this a good sign that I am growing up. However, these adult events require a different contribution than my usual vodka/ chips combo.

I love choosing gifts, but recently I was faced with the double challenge of a pitiful bank balance and a hostess I don’t know very well. What would my new, grown-up persona do to maintain her aura of refinement?

Inspiration in the form of a cookie

Thanks to some inspiration from a brilliant friend, I was able to whip up a batch of easy-to-make, delicious triple choc cookies, pop them in a hipster Kmart jar with a twine adornment, and show up to the housewarming party feeling smug.

Despite having to repurpose my fruit bowl into a mixing bowl, burning the chocolate melts and discovering at the crucial moment that I don’t own a sifter, my cookies were a hit. Benefits included:

• Getting to eat the cookie batter;
• Party goers believing I’m thoughtful, domesticated and bake on the reg;
• Sticking to a budget of $25.

Here is the recipe, purloined from Create Bake Make and recommended by the wonderful Lizzy.

Ingredients

110g unsalted butter, softened
¾ Cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup plain flour sifted
¼ cup cocoa powder sifted
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
125g dark chocolate melted
150g of dark chocolate extra roughly chopped
150g of white chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees
2. Place butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until light and creamy
3. Add the egg and vanilla and beat for a further 3-4 minutes.
4. Stir through the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda and melted chocolate
5. Add the extra chopped chocolate and stir to combine
6. Roll tablespoons of the mixture into rounds
7. Place on baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper, allowing room to spread
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slight cracks have formed

The current trend for mason jars and the like makes it easy to pick up a canister for under $5 – although I recommend a wide mouthed jar, as my cookies had to be jammed in, oops. Whack on a ribbon, attach a mini card, and you’re a shoe-in for Princess Present-bringer. Yeah, don’t mention it!