Chocolate Butterball Christmas Cookies

By Diana Rattray

southernfood.about.com

Chocolate Christmas Cookies ---- Large Photo

Chocolate Christmas Cookies Image © Diana Rattray

These chocolate Christmas cookies are easy to make and shape into little butterballs. Roll these little Christmas cookies in confectioners' sugar after they cool, or roll in granulated sugar or decorative sugar before baking.

Large Photo

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes

Yield: Makes 5 to 6 Dozen

Ingredients:

• 2 squares (1 ounce each) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
• 1 tablespoon half-and-half or cream
• 6 ounces (12 tablespoons) butter, room temperature
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• sifted powdered sugar or decorative sugar*

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350°.

Melt chocolate over low heat; stir cream into the chocolate and set aside to cool.

Cream butter and sugar until light; beat in vanilla and the cooled chocolate. Blend in the flour and salt until blended. Stir in nuts. Shape into 1-inch balls and bake on ungreased baking sheets for 12 to 14 minutes.

Cool completely then roll gently in the sifted powdered sugar.

*If desired, roll instead in decorative sugar before baking.

Makes about 4 to 5 dozen cookies.