Cocoa powder adds chocolate flavor to these holiday sugar cookies. Try this recipe from
The Eastman Inn in North Conway, New Hampshire. Reprinted with the permission of the
Country Inns in the White Mountains.
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 2 large egg whites
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup plus 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup Dutch cocoa powder, sifted
- Pinch of salt
Preparation:
In an electric mixer, combine brown sugar, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, butter, and vanilla, and mix on medium-high speed until well combined. Add egg whites, and mix until combined. In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, and salt. Add to sugar and butter mixture, and mix on medium until flour is completely incorporated. Turn this mixture out onto a piece of parchment or waxed paper, and roll into a 3/4 by 8-1/2 inch log. Chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Remove paper, and slice log crosswise into 1/4-inch thick pieces. Place remaining 1-1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a small bowl, and dip each piece of dough in sugar, coating all sides; transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, placing cookies 1 inch apart. Bake about 14 minutes for chewy cookies; for crisp cookies, bake 2 to 3 minutes longer. Slide the paper and cookies onto a wire rack to cool.
Yield: Approximately 32 cookies.