These French Valrhona chocolate cookies are a delightful treat that perfectly balances the rich flavor of Valrhona chocolate with a satisfying crunchy texture and soft interior.

Do Quality Ingredients Like Valrhona Cocoa 55% Make A Difference?

Yes, it does! Take your favorite brownie recipe or chocolate cake recipe and use this cocoa. You will be amazed at the additional flavor and depth this cocoa will bring to your chocolate desserts. This cocoa is a little pricey, but for good reason. Please, I’m begging you all to try it! This is a perfect example of why quality ingredients make a huge difference. It is worth every penny! Cocoa contains a lot of fat that can get rancid so I buy it in small quantities. I buy it directly from Olive Nation to make sure it is fresh (I have no connection to Olive Nation, nor do I receive a commission for this recommendation).

TIP: Use this recipe as an experiment on how the quality of ingredients can completely change a recipe. Chefs understand that the quality of ingredients are the foundation of memorable dishes

FAQs

What is Valrhona Cocoa?

Valrhona is a French chocolate manufacturer based in the small town of Tain L’Hermitage in Hermitage, a wine-growing district near Lyon. The company was founded in 1922 by Monsieur Guironnet, an enterprising French pastry chef from the Rhône valley who opened La Chocolaterie du Vivarais, his first chocolate factory.

What do cocoa percentages mean?

Dark chocolates vary widely in cocoa content; those on the lower end (say, 50-70% cocoa) will be less bitter than those with higher percentages. The higher percentage the darker the chocolate.

Can I substitute Valrhona cocoa for grocery store cocoa?

Yes, but your baked goods will not have the chocolate complexity and depth of flavor that Valrhona gives to chocolate baked goods.

Recommended Kitchen Tools

Small Cookie Scoop; I use this scoop all the time for cookies. Cookies will cook more evenly and look visibly pleasing. I use scoops for my ice cream garnishes on desserts.

Silicone Baking Mats: I love these because of the cleanup and the fact that I don’t have to grease cookie sheets. I have had burnt syrup flake off these mats as I clean them.

Half Sheet Bake Pan with Rack. There are many types of baking sheets out there and for less money than this one. I own this pan because I like that it comes with a baking rack that fits into the baking pan. This very convenient for icing cookies or dipping pretzels in chocolate and cookie decorating. It makes clean up so much easier and you can always use a baking rack to cool your baked goods. If you’re looking for a less expensive baking pan, choose one that is heavy and light in color – aluminum pans work very well. Remember the darker the pan, the quicker your baked goods will have a dark brown bottom.