CHOCOLATE BUTTER COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Combine sugar, butter, egg, and extract.
• Beat at medium speed until fluffy.
• Gradually add flour and cocoa until well mixed.
• Shape into rounded teaspoonfuls 1" balls, cookie press, or indent in the middle.
• Bake for 7-9 minutes.
• Cool, then decorate with melted chocolate, cherry in center, or powdered sugar.

Steps:

• Combine sugar and butter in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add egg and almond extract; continue beating until well mixed.
• Combine flour, cocoa and salt in another bowl.  Add flour mixture gradually to butter mixture, beating at low speed and scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
• Divide dough into thirds. Wrap each third in plastic food wrap; refrigerate 2 hours or overnight until firm.
• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Shape dough with floured hands, one-third at a time (keep remaining dough refrigerated), into 1-inch balls. Form balls into desired shapes (balls, squares, logs, etc.) or follow variations as directed below. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7-9 minutes or until set. (Surface may crack slightly.) Cool completely. Decorate as desired.