Chocolate Cookies with a Delicious Twist

Ingredients:

2 cups granulated sugar

¾ cup vegetable oil

¾ cup cocoa powder

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 ¹/₃ cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

Powdered sugar

Chocolate chips (optional for extra sweetness)

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix granulated sugar and vegetable oil.  Then add cocoa and mix until well blended.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  

In a separate bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt.  Then gradually add cocoa mixture; beating well. 

Cover and refrigerate until dough is firm enough to mold; at least 6 hours

Heat oven to 350°.  

Lightly grease cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

Shape dough into 1-in round balls then roll then in powdered sugar to coat. Place about 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes or until the tops are slightly crackled. Remove from oven and let stand on cookie sheet for 2 minutes then move to cooling rack.  Let cool completely and enjoy!

Tips: the chocolate chips are a great addition if you like your cookies extra sweet.  That being said this addition may be too sweet for some.

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Chocolate Covered Pretzels

My nephew was over the other day so we decided to make chocolate covered pretzels.  This is how we did it...

All you need is:

Pretzel Rods

My Camera was on the fritz.
So I borrowed a pic from the web.

Chocolate chips (you can also use white chocolate)

Sprinkles (optional)

Wax paper/cooling rack

Directions:

Empty the bag of chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl.  Then microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove and stir with a spatula (some of the chips will melt when you are stirring, if they don't, microwave for 15 more seconds, then stir again.)  Because the chocolate hardens after awhile, I found it easier to work with half a bag of chocolate at a time.

Dip one pretzel rod into the melted chocolate and use a spoon or butter knife to spread the chocolate.  Hold the rod over a piece of wax paper/plate and shake sprinkles on all sides.  Place the pretzel on another piece of wax paper or a cooling rack to dry.  Repeat until you've coated all the pretzels and let dry completely (we ate them after a few hours in the fridge, well the kids ate their's instantly). 

If working with children, its easiest to pour them their own bowl of chocolate and give them a few pretzels and a spoon. 

Warning:  This particular recipe is very messy, especially with 2 toddlers.  So if you do not like big mess projects, this is not the recipe for you.

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