Simple Chocolate Cookies

Simplicity is beautiful.  Sometimes I like to bake a cookie that is straightforward with standard pantry ingredients.  While I recognize the trend to layer in special ingredients to deepen and enhance flavors, I appreciate the subtle enhancements - perhaps a special cocoa powder or Tahitian vanilla.   More does not always mean better - I went to a fancy restaurant owned by a famous chef and ordered a dish that sounded delicious seasoned with rosemary, special olive oils, specific cheeses, etc. and it tasted like a rosemary branch.  Another time it was a basil extravaganza and then I thought these chefs are big names over quality and started doing my research more carefully.  Meanwhile the major food companies are flavor "blasting" with flavors boosted in a chemistry lab, frozen yogurt shops encourage one to load in sprinkles, fruit, cookies, granola and twenty other options into your bowl, and then there is the candy bars in everything trend.  If the options become overwhelming out there.  Stay home and keep it simple with these cookies. Dress these cookies up or dress them down, it is your choice.

Simple Chocolate Cookies

makes about 4 dozen

2 cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup cocoa powder

½ cup chopped chocolate or mini chocolate chips

1 teaspoon baking soda 

½  teaspoon salt

1 ¼  cups unsalted butter

2 cups sugar 

1/4 cup sugar for rolling or dipping cookie balls into (optional)

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 ¼  teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit 

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, set aside.

Cream the butter and 2 cups sugar add vanilla and eggs and mix until light and fluffy.

Add dry ingredients, and mix well. 

Add chopped chocolate. 

Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes until the cookie dough is somewhat firm.

Use a 1 tablespoon cookie dough scoop to form dough balls and then roll or dip the balls in sugar.

Bake 10 -12 minutes . 

Cool on a wire rack.  

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

I sometimes have a craving for mint - chocolate mint, mint tea, mint chip ice cream, chocolate mint candies, peppermints - it is so refreshing and soothing.  The combination of chocolate and mint was fated -  I am certain these two wonderful plant products could not exist side by side without some person having the idea of mixing them together.  These cookies call for mint chocolate chips which are readily available in grocery stores.  For a quick chocolate and mint fix try these cookies.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes about 3 dozen

1 ¼ cup flour

½ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

⅔ cups cocoa 

½ cups butter

¼  cups sugar

½ cups brown sugar

1-½ teaspoon vanilla extract

⅓ cups milk

12 ounces mint chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and cocoa, and set aside.
Beat the butter on medium-high until light and then add sugars, creaming well.
Add the vanilla and beat until smooth. 
Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternately with the milk in one batch, mixing well. 
Stir in the mint chips.
Chill dough for at least 15 minutes. 

Scoop the dough into round tablespoon-sized balls and place onto prepared baking sheet, press down on the dough balls slightly, and bake for 10-12 minutes. 
Let the cookies cool completely on the cookie sheet, they will set up as they cool. 
Store in an air-tight container.