Chocolate can help in stressful times. It is comforting and evokes happy feelings. It is the one thing I seek out when I’m feeling sad, under pressure, stressed, or majorly concerned about something. Recent events had me in the kitchen seeking it. I looked around and the bag of candy was long gone. Other sweets were everything but chocolate. The last resort was bags of chocolate chips in the pantry. Popping a handful of those chips in my mouth sparked the inspiration for baking Quadruple Chocolate Shortbread Cookies.
What recent events were causing me stress? It had to do with my dog, Tiger. Bear with me for sharing the details. If you want to skip them scroll down closer to the recipe. It started one morning several weeks ago as he was walking through the den. He stopped, turned, gave me a distressed look, and fell over on his side. I could tell there was something very wrong and immediately took him to the vet. His tests and bloodwork came back fine. An x-ray showed some type of possible mass however more tests would need to be done to find out what was wrong.
A back story on Tiger first. Over three years ago he had some lumps we thought were typical fatty ones on dogs. We had some of them removed and the test came back positive for cancer (sub-cutaneous lymphoma). The type is one chemotherapy doesn’t do much good. We took the vet’s advice and did our best to make each and every day a happy one for him. The vet said all would be okay until the cancer got into his organs and we thought this time had come.
The next test for Tiger was an ultrasound. It revealed his spleen was enlarged and there was a mass either in it or beside it. A biopsy of both was taken and the results came back benign. The vet who did the ultrasound called Tiger a miracle dog because she had never seen or heard of any dog diagnosed with sub-cutaneous lymphoma to live for more than a few months. There is a possibility it could have gone into a type of miraculous remission. However the major issue at hand was with his spleen and we decided to have it and the mass removed. It is major surgery for a dog.
How is Tiger now? He is doing great. He plays, snoozes, and is soaking up being spoiled as usual. It was such a stressful time while going through it all. Thank goodness for chocolate and the kindness of family and friends. I was deeply touched by the outpouring of caring and concern for him from so many. He doesn’t like the camera so getting a photo of him is difficult. Click on the link to Tiger Butter Candy in the next paragraph to see the one I took of him for that post.
How are the quadruple chocolate shortbread cookies? They are big, dense, domes full of four types of chocolate; unsweetened cocoa plus milk, dark, and white chocolate chips. I haven’t made these in years. It was time to make them again because it also coincided with this month’s Creative Cookie Exchange theme. Read more about it below the recipe. Take a look at Quadruple Chocolate Loaf Cake and Tiger Butter Candy too. The more chocolate the better.

Quadruple Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment or non-stick liner.
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Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
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Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
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Add egg yolks and vanilla to creamed mixture and beat until combined.
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Add flour mixture and mix just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Do not over-mix.
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Stir in chocolate chips.
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Drop rounded dough balls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets using a 1.25-ounce (1.75-inch diameter) ice cream scoop. (I did 8 dough balls per baking sheet).
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Bake for 18 minutes, or until almost firm when lightly touched.
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Cool cookies on baking sheets for 2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
Recipe Notes
A recipe for Quadruple Chocolate Shortbread Cookies made with cocoa plus white, dark, and milk chocolate chips. They are big, dense, and comforting.
Recipe adapted from Chocolate-Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies on the Food Network website.
The Creative Cookie Exchange theme this month is Comfort Food Cookies. What cookie says comfort food to you? If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura via email (thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com) and she will get you added to our Facebook group where discuss our cookies and share links.
You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:
- Baked Thekua (Traditional Sweet Wheat Flour Cookies) from Indian Curries/Stew
- Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from What Smells So Good?
- Butterscotch Cookies from A Baker’s House
- Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies from Made with Love
- Chocolate Cappuccino Toffee Chip Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Chocolate Chip Cookies Made with an Assortment of Chocolate from The Spiced Life
- Crispy Potato Chip Cookies from Rhubarb and Honey
- Dark Chocolate Chunk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies from Food Lust People Love
- Momma’s Bran Chocolate Chip Cookies from Sweet Cinnamon & Honey
- Nut Cookies from Basic N Delicious
- Peanut Butter & Damson Jam Bars from Baking in Pyjamas
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Noshing with the Nolands
- Quadruple Chocolate Shortbread Cookies from Magnolia Days
- Roth – The Sacred Cookies from Kashmir from Spiceroots
- Triple Chocolate Cookies from It’s Yummi
Sarah
Sunday 28th of September 2014
Shortbreads are so addictive, and chocolate just makes them even better :-)
Renee
Saturday 4th of October 2014
So very true Sarah.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
Thursday 25th of September 2014
aw I'm so glad that Tiger is doing ok!!!! How wonderful! I'm sure you def. needed some chocolate to deal with all that stress, though, and these cookies look like the best comfort snacks!
Renee
Saturday 27th of September 2014
Thanks Kayle
Betsy @ Desserts Required
Friday 19th of September 2014
I am thrilled for all of you that Tiger is doing so well. Sweet baby!! Chocolate is a comfort food to me, too. Ok, it's also a go-to food for just about everything. Thanks for this delicious recipe and heartwarming post!
Renee
Wednesday 24th of September 2014
Thanks a bunch Betsy
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
Wednesday 17th of September 2014
Renee, I've been following Tiger's progress on your Facebook page and I'm always so relieved for you every time you post a positive update. Thank goodness he's pulling through. My heart broke when you wrote about how he gave you a distressed look right before falling over. Poor guy! You definitely deserve all the chocolate and these beautiful shortbread cookies look jam packed with it. I'm sending big hugs to you and Tiger!
Renee
Thursday 18th of September 2014
Thanks Nancy and I was sure to give Tiger a big hug from you.
Tara
Wednesday 17th of September 2014
I have been following along with your updates on Tiger, so glad he is doing well now. I know how important animals are in your life as they are in mine!! I adore your cookies too, they look fabulous!!
Renee
Thursday 18th of September 2014
Thanks Tara and my hounds are so very important in my life. They are such a source of love.