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Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Source of Recipe

From "The Vanilla Bean Baking Book" by Sarah Kieffer


Recipe Introduction

"I often find myself craving a piece of chocolate in the afternoons, as it goes rather nicely with the cup of hot coffee that is also a necessity in my daily life. Most days a little square of bittersweet will do, but other times something more extravagant is essential. I have found these chocolate sugar cookies do the trick; they are soft and delicious without being overly rich and sweet."

List of Ingredients

◦ 1 � cups all-purpose flour
◦ � cup natural cocoa powder
◦ � teaspoon baking soda
◦ � teaspoon salt
◦ 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
◦ 1 � cups sugar, plus 1 cup for rolling
◦ 1 large egg
◦ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


Recipe

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350� F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter on medium until smooth. Add the 1 � cups sugar and beat on medium until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on medium until combined. Add the flour mixture and beat on low until just combined.

Place the remaining 1 cup of the sugar in a medium bowl.
Form the cookies into 3-ounce balls (a scant ⅓ cup each). Roll each ball in the sugar and place six cookies on each prepared sheet pan. Bake one sheet at a time 11 to 14 minutes, until the edges have set and the centers are puffed and starting to crackle. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack and let the cookies cool completely on the pan.

Makes 11 to 12 large cookies






❧ Variation: Chocolate-Cardamom Cookies
Add 1 teaspoon ground cardamom to the sugar used for rolling.