[Photo: Kathy YL Chan]

Spicy chocolate sweets are nothing new, but usually it's the chocolate that dominates, and not the spice. And that is exactly what makes these Cha-Cha cookies from Lark Fine Foods in Gloucester, Massachusetts unique. Cayenne-induced heat hits with a surprisingly strong shock upon the initial bite and teasingly lingers for minutes after the cookie has disappeared. The cocoa plays a secondary role here, and the cookies are chewy with a sharp snap. They're low on sugar and high on flavor intensity, a combination I'll gladly take any day. Cha-Chas can be found in a package of 12 for $7 at Lucy's Whey in Chelsea Market.

Lucy's Whey

425 W 15th Street, New York, NY 10019 (map)
212-463-9500
lucyswhey.com