Cocoa Snowflakes

This recipe from Penzeys, of which I'm a regular customer, makes delicious, bite-sized chewy brownie cookies with a pretty, lacy snowflakes top, perfect for snow season and the Holidays.

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

5 TB. butter

6 TB. NATURAL COCOA POWDER

1 Cup sugar

1 tsp. PURE VANILLA EXTRACT

2 large eggs

1 Cup finely chopped nuts (optional) (I cheated, I didn't chop, I used Coffee Grinder to grind the nuts)

1/2 Cup powdered sugar (for rolling cookies in)

Makes 48

Directions adapted from Penzeys and somewhat simplified by me are in following steps:

In a bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.

In a mixing bowl that can be warmed, melt the butter over low heat or water bath.

Add COCOA POWDER, blend well with a fork or a small whisk until smooth.

Stir in sugar until combined (it will be dark brown at this point).

Add PURE VANILLA EXTRACT, mix well.

Add eggs one at a time, stirring well after each addition.

Add flour mixture, mix well with a hand mixer.

Grind and add nuts if desired, mix well.

Divide the dough into 4 equal parts.

Wrap the dough with individual plastic wrap, refrigerate until chilled (at least 2 hours, better overnight). The dough never gets really stiff, but it won't roll into nice balls if it's warm.

Preheat oven to 400F.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (Don't use cooking spray/grease or the bottom of the cookie can get burnt).

Take only 1 part of the dough out of refrigerator to work with.

Pinch off a hunk of dough enough to make a 3/4" ball, then roll it into a ball, it's really easy, takes only a second. Then roll the ball in powdered sugar, be generous with the powdered sugar for a good snowflakes effect. I used a spoon to roll the balls in the sugar. Roll each part of the dough into 12 balls.

Place the sugar coated balls onto the lined cookie sheet, 2" apart.

Bake cookies for 8 minutes at 400°, be ready to be delighted by the beauty of the snowflakes effect.

Let cool a minute, then remove from pan. Store in an airtight container to maintain the soft and chewy texture.

Enjoy! As a matter of fact, I just walked to my cookie jar and ate two of it.

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