Chocolate Sugar Cookies

These turned out absolutely great. They tasted almost like a Chips A'Hoy Cookie. Smooth and chewy with a perfect chocolate taste. I'm going to try chocolate chunks in them next time and, not rolling them out but just making balls and smashing them a bit. But these are not as close to a sugar cookie taste as "some" may like, so I will forewarn you about that. But this is officially in our repertoire of recipes.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies. (obviously depending on size)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups flour (all-purpose)
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with mixer until fluffy.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating really well after each one.
3. Beat in vanilla.
4. In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
5. Slowly add to butter mixture.
6. Cover, wrap, whatever your choice and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
8. Roll out dough to quarter inch thickness and cut.
9. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Edges should be firm.
10. Cool for 2 minutes on pan, remove and cool.

I did not decorate or frost this time, but you could decorate these easily with some royal icing or maybe just a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar.