Guest Author - Heather J. Hasan

I baked these for the Chinese New Year after finding the recipe in a local news paper. They are so scrumptious that I have decided to share this recipe with you, my readers, in hopes that you will enjoy them as much as my family and I have.

The recipe takes some time and effort but the end product is delicious and worth the work.

Vanilla Dough:
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt

Chocolate Dough:
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1/3 cup natural cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Cocoa Powder)
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt

Decorations:
½ cup white chocolate chips
½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips

To prepare vanilla dough:
Combine the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until fluffy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, using a spoon or an electric mixer with a paddle attachment to form stiff dough. Set aside.

To prepare the chocolate dough:
In a second large mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar using an electric mixer to beat until fluffy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, using a spoon or an electric mixer with a paddle attachment to form a stiff dough.

Preparation for baking:
Cover both batches of dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 2 hours or until firm enough to shape.
Divide each batch of dough in half. Shape each half of the vanilla dough in a log with a 1 ½ inch diameter and 8 to 9 inches long. Roll it in a piece of wax paper on the counter will help make it smooth.
Using your thumbs, make an indention along one long side of the long to create an apostrophe shape. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate. Repeat the process with the chocolate dough.
Remove vanilla dough from refrigerator and unwrap one piece. Invert vanilla dough into one of the chocolate ones to create a round, interlocking yin-yang log. Roll a few times to ensure they adhere.
Repeat the process with the remaining logs. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to overnight. The dough can also be frozen.

Baking:
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Using a serrated knife, cut the cookie dough into 1/4 –inch thick disks and arrange them about 1 ½ inches apart on the pan. Invert one white chocolate chip in the chocolate half of each cookie and a chocolate chip in the vanilla half.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies have spread, puffed, and begun to brown around the edges. Let them cool on the pans 5 to 10 minutes Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Store in airtight container at room temp for up to a week or freeze up to one month.

And there you have it! These cookies are excellent for any Chinese-themed party/celebration or whenever you are in the mood for something yummy.

-Reprinted from the Columbus Dispatch in Columbus, Ohio.