Cookies ‘n’ Cream Conchas

The other week I had this grand idea to make cinnamon roll conchas. I tried to give them a go and unfortunately they did not turn out right. They tasted incredible, don’t get me wrong, but they looked awful. They were all wonky and the topping slid off and cracked in all the wrong places. I think it was because the cinnamon roll filling bubbled and oozed out and created chaos. I have to go back to the drawing board with that idea because they were delicious. I almost remade them but while I was contemplating how to fix the situation, the idea for these Cookies ‘n’ Cream Conchas popped into my mind and I knew I had to make those right away. These turned out perfectly. They tasted just like the ice cream…which happens to be my favorite flavor. Anyhow, long story short, if it wasn’t for the baking disaster, I wouldn’t have thought of this recipe so really I’m thankful that happened.

To make the dough, warm the milk in a glass measuring cup to about 110°F. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar along with the yeast. Allow to rest until bloomed, about 10 minutes.

**Note: If the yeast doesn’t activate properly, throw it out and start over. You can’t skip this step because if the yeast isn’t activated the dough will not rise.**

In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the dough hook attachment, whisk together the flour, remaining sugar and salt.

Add the melted butter, eggs, and the yeast mixture. Mix on low until the dough starts to come together. Raise the speed to medium and knead until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and becomes smooth and soft, about 8 to 10 minutes.

**Note: If the dough is very sticky, add a tablespoon of flour at a time until it pulls away from the bowl.**

Once kneaded, add the crushed chocolate cookies and mix until just combined, you want streaks throughout the dough but not fully combined. Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and a damp kitchen towel. Allow to rest in a warm spot until doubled in sized, for 1 hour and half.

**Tip: I like to place it in the oven, that is turned off. This is the perfect ambience for the dough to rise properly.**

Meanwhile, to make the topping, in a large bowl, beat the vegetable shortening until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and flour and mix until it comes together and is pliable and somewhat soft. Add the crushed chocolate cookies and mix until just combined. Wrap in plastic and allow to rest at room temperature until ready to use.

**Note: You can easily flavor this topping so many different ways. Use cocoa powder to turn it chocolately or add cinnamon for a fun twist. Powdered freeze-dried strawberries would be great too.**

Once the dough has risen, punch it down to deflate and then transfer to a lightly floured work surface. Cut the dough into 12 even pieces (roughly 85g each). Use your palm to roll the dough pieces into smooth balls. Place onto two baking sheets that have been lined with parchment paper, with enough space for spreading. I do six per baking sheet. Cover the pans with plastic wrap and allow to double in size once again, for 1 hour.

Divide the topping into 12 even pieces and roll each into a ball. Flatten out into a thin round about 1/4-inch thick, either by hand or with a tortilla press. Place this over the risen dough and use a sharp paring knife to score the top slightly. You can also use a concha cutter.

Bake until lightly golden brown around the edges, about 20 to 22 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Even though the conchas can be stored, they’re really the best when eaten the day you make them. If you do have any leftovers, you can rewarm them slightly in the microwave to not only soften them but also to warm them up slightly.

Conchas by nature are meant to be slightly on the drier side so that you can enjoy them with a cup of coffee in the morning, but I don’t drink coffee and honestly I’d eat them for as a dessert, especially these since they’re slightly sweeter than a traditional concha.

If you’re a cookies ‘n’ cream fan, then you’ll love these conchas. I hope you give them a try and if you do, please let me know what you think below and as always thank you so much for reading and following along.