Another log cookie. This one more complicated than the rest.

Yin-yang inspired? I wasn’t hopeful of the results. 

Here we go.

Step 1: Gather ingredients: Flour, powdered sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder, butter, salt, egg yolk. 

Step 2: Sift flour and salt in a bowl. 

Got it. Still the easy part.

Step 3: Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. 

Uh huh.

Step 4: Mix in egg yolk and vanilla. 

Step 5: Gradually add flour mixture. 

Still doing okay.

Step 6: Divide dough in half. Add cocoa powder to one half. 

Here comes the hard part.

Step 7: Roll into 2 10-inch logs. 

Xander didn’t think I was bad at it.

Step 8: Chill until slightly firm, 30 minutes. 

Step 9: Press handle of a long wooden spoon into side of chocolate log, making an indentation along its length. Roll handle, creating an apostrophe shape. 

I do not have a wooden spoon with a round handle.

Wait! I found my spatula with an…oval handle. It was the best shot I had.

And it sucked. The ends of the log cracked and it looked nothing like an apostrophe.

Step 10: Repeat with vanilla log and fit logs together. 

You might also read this step as “give up and just squish them together.”

Step 11: Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes, then slice and bake. 

OMG you guys, OMG. They actually almost look right. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

I’m still in shock, but I’ll take it.

Link to original recipe

Yields: 48
I got: 35

Start time: 10:00
End time: 12:00 (2 hours)
Martha’s estimated time: 1 hour, 50 mins

What did I learn? 

• Having the right tools might make for a better experience.
• Freezing the log makes it easier to slice.
• These still impressed people.

What do I need to learn? 

• How did they end up looking almost correct?
• How do I please my toughest critics?

Grab a cup o’ joe and a stack of these and have yourself a good day.