Chocolate Brownie Cookies For The Holiday

Who doesn't like the gift of home made items and baked goods?  These are perfect for teachers, neighbors, family and even the postal delivery person who is there for you all year long.  We expect our news paper to be delivered on time and the mail to be nice and dry so why not show just a little appreciation by adding a little baked goody to the day of that special person. 

This year I found a great assortment of containers at the Dollar Tree stores.  There are some nice sized metal boxes that are perfect for just the right amount.  There are also 'cookie boxes' that has nice designs and the top is a window of cellophane.  And again, perfect size.   All you need to do is the baking.

For the next few days I will throw a few recipes your way that seem to be a favorite of many.  Chocolate is always in demand so that is where I will start.  This recipe for chocolate brownie cookies comes directly from the Martha Stewart's Cookie Cookie Book, with just a couple of suggestions for change. 

Here's what you need to start -
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups unsalted butter
2 cups sugar + 1/4 cup for rolling cookie balls into
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Super simple directions-
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Beat the butter, 2 cups sugar, vanilla and eggs until light and fluffy
Slowly add dry ingredients, and mix well.  Chill the dough in the refrigerator for one hour until the cookie dough is somewhat firm.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper or with a silicone baking mat. Use a 1 tablespoon cookie dough scoop to form dough balls and then roll the balls in sugar. You can always just grab a little bit and form the ball, but you know that the batch will bake more evenly if you use a cute little scoop.  And if you have the help of kids, the sizes can really vary.  I like the Wilton Cookie Scoop and use it for everything you can imagine.  Now - bake 10 -12 minutes . Cool on a wire rack.

That's all there is to it.  Not only is this in a great cook book but also suggested in the web site of Mavis, OneHundredDollarsAMonth.com, which you all know that I love and live by many of her suggestions. 

I have one more suggestion.  Pack and seal these goodies up as quickly as possible.  It is for sure the only way to keep them from disappearing before they can be gifted.