COOKIES FOR SANTA PLATE SET RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the cake mix and baking powder in a large bowl to get rid of any lumps. Add the eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla and mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate until the dough just begins to firm up, about 30 minutes. Spread the sprinkles in a shallow bowl. Scoop and roll the dough into balls (about 2 tablespoons each), then roll the balls in the sprinkles. Place on the baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until the tops of the cookies are slightly puffed and cracked and the edges are set, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then remove to racks to cool completely.
  

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. For the cookies: Put the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 50 percent power in 15-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Let cool slightly.  Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and whisk.  Combine the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and light, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla and melted chocolate and beat until well combined, about 30 seconds. With the mixer on low speed, beat in half of the flour mixture, then the buttermilk, then the remaining flour mixture until smooth. Mix in the pecans. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the tops of the cookies are puffed and the edges are set, 8 to 10 minutes. (Don’t overbake; you want the centers to stay fudgy.) Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then remove to a rack set over a separate parchment-lined baking sheet. For the glaze: Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and whisk in the milk, cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and whisk vigorously until smooth. Spoon the glaze over the cookies, letting it drip down the sides. Let the glaze set, about 1 hour.