Saturday Share: Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cookies

This is my mom’s recipe for chocolate cookies.

They’re easy to make even if they do require chilling, rolling out, and cutting.

I sometimes take a shortcut. Once chilled, I scoop out a teaspoon of dough, flatten it and place it on the cookie sheet.

I get a ragged-edge cookie, but the cookies still taste delicious.

Sometimes, I take 2 thin cookies and put them together with chocolate frosting like an Oreo.

Then I dip the top cookie into my version of chocolate ganache (recipe at the end of the cookie recipe) and then into flaked coconut or chopped pecans. That’s what I did with the picture of the cookies on the rack that I made last week.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients

1 stick of softened butter
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
flaked coconut, garnish
chopped pecans or other nuts, garnish

Directions

1. Cream the softened butter and the sugar together for a couple of minutes.
2. Add the egg and beat.
3. Add the flour and the cocoa a little at a time so you won’t create a dust cloud. If you don’t have a spatter shield, it’s best to stir in the dry ingredients by hand just until mixed a little.
4. Then use your mixer on low speed to mix well.
5. Add the vanilla extract and mix well.
6. Shape the cookie mixture into a ball, place in a covered bowl in the refrigerator, and chill for 2 hours.
7. Remove from the fridge. Dust a rolling pin and the surface on which you’ll roll the dough out very lightly with flour.
8. Roll the cookie dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with your favorite cookie cutters.
9. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes until they’re set. You don’t want to overcook them.
10. Cool on a rack.
11. Dip one side into my fake chocolate ganache then press into garnishes or double stack them like Oreos.

My Fake Ganache

This is easy to make. You just have to know your microwave. You’ll need some semi-sweet chocolate chips and some heavy cream.

Put the chips in a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl. Microwave on high for about 20 seconds. Using a spoon, stir to see if they’re all melted and gooey. If not, microwave for another 10 seconds. Repeat the spoon test. If you have to microwave again, do it in 5 second increments.

When melted and all gooey, stir in a couple of tablespoons of cream. Stir and stir. The melted chocolate should be hot enough to incorporate the cream easily. If needed, nuke it 5 seconds more then beat it well. It will end up glossy like real ganache.

Eat and enjoy! I like a glass of milk with chocolate anything.

After making these chocolate goodies, reward yourself by reading a romantic comedy short story like Blame It On Chocolate.

Only 99¢ for a story that a reviewer said is: “A fresh, witty, delicious story. Just like an irresistible bar of chocolate, you’ll finish it all at once.”

Takeaway Truth

Enjoy the cookies and this short story.

Join me every Saturday when I share a recipe, a household or organizational tip, or a short cut to make life easier for you! Have a great weekend!