These cookies are rich with cocoa flavor and big chunks of
bittersweet chocolate. The cookies are soft, and stay soft
for days, making them perfect for cookie jars and picnics.
Dutch processed cocoa results in a richer, more intensely
flavored cookie, but regular old baking cocoa also produces
an excellent cookie.
Recipe:
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup Dutch processed cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Additional sugar for rolling
Procedure:
Break the chocolate into 1/2 inch - 1 inch chunks and
set aside. Beat the butter with the sugar and brown sugar until
smooth and creamy in a medium bowl. Beat in the eggs and vanilla
until smooth. Sift in the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
Stir until smooth. Add the chocolate
chunks. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Preheat the oven to 375
degrees. Place the additional sugar on a small plate or bowl. Take about
a tablespoon of the dough and roll the cookies into a small ball. Roll
in the sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheets about 1 inch apart.
Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the cookie tops and sides are liberally
cracked. Remove from the oven and let the cookies sit for five minutes
to firm up. If you move them too soon they will be too soft and will
break. Transfer to wire racks and cool to room temperature. Store in an
airtight container.
Makes about 8 dozen cookies.
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Chilling Time: 2 hours
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Note : You can make these cookies as drop cookies and just sprinkle
the sugar over them before baking. They taste the same, but are not
quite as pretty as you can see from the photo below. If you make
them as drop cookies, you can skip refrigerating the dough.
