Italian Chocolate Cookies
Site visitor Mimi Kresse sent us this recipe, which she says, "...is part of my Italian heritage – we always make them during the holidays."
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
For the glaze:
- 2 squares unsweetened chocolate (1 ounce each)
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 cup hot milk
Preparation
Pre-heat the oven to 375°F.
Sift 3 cups flour twice. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and cocoa. Cream 1 cup butter or margarine; blend into the flour mixture. Add 1/3 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla and the walnuts. Mix thoroughly with your hands until well blended. (The dough should be the consistency of pie crust, but not sticky.)
For each cookie, pinch off about 1 teaspoon dough. Using your hands, roll it into balls, each about 1 inch in diameter. Place on greased baking sheets. Do not flatten. Bake about 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove the cookies from the baking sheets; cool on racks.
To make the chocolate glaze, melt the chocolate squares over low heat. Cream with 1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 cups confectioner's sugar. Gradually add the hot milk, beating until smooth.
When the cookies are cool, drizzle each generously with chocolate glaze. Sprinkle with candy sprinkles, if desired.
