Holiday Baking Series - Chocolate Truffle Cookies

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE COOKIES

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
6 tablespoons butter
2 cups [12 ounces] semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 250 degrees F.

Chop unsweetened chocolate. Cut butter into pieces. Melt chopped chocolate, butter and 1 cup chocolate ships in a small pan in oven, stirring occasionally. Cool.

Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Beat sugar and eggs about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Stir in chocolate mixture, then flour mixture and finally the remaining 1 cup chocolate chips.

Cover and chill until firm, at least 1 hour. Dough must be very cold.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Shape into approximately 1 inch balls. It may help to wet hands. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart, until puffed, about 10 minutes.

YIELD: about 4 dozen cookies