84 cookies

This recipe calls for templates you can get from womansday.com/templates or you can just use the ginger bread cookie cutters you already have.

SERVES 3 TO 4
If you like, substitute an equal amount of basil for tarragon and replace the thyme with rosemary, oregano, or sage. Do not use dried herbs, which lose potency during cooking and turn the dish gritty. For best flavor, buy a high-quality chicken such as Bell & Evans. The chicken should not exceed 5 pounds or it won’t fit in the skillet. The chicken may slightly overhang the skillet at first, but once browned it will fit.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
For a roast chicken recipe that gets the entire bird—not just the breast—seasoned throughout, we butterflied the chicken and made shallow cuts in the dark meat. A thick herb paste not only adhered to the now flat chicken but also penetrated the pockets created by the cuts, giving us the flavorful and aromatic chicken recipe we were looking for.

Do not grease the pan here. The cake needs to grab onto the sides to rise properly. As you stir in the first amount of beaten egg whites into the bloomed chocolate mixture, make sure it’s smooth before continuing. Take care not to deflate the egg whites as you fold into the batter. Take care inverting the pan upside down. Don’t set the pan on a wine bottle—my cake fell out that way.