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Grammy’s Chocolate Cookies

A hefty dose of cocoa powder makes these old-fashioned drop cookies perfect for fans of dark chocolate. The recipe is so simple, it’s a natural for preparing with children; they especially love forming the dough into balls and rolling them in sanding sugar.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes about 3 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

2

cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3

/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder

1

teaspoon baking soda

1

/2 teaspoon salt

1

1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

2

cups granulated sugar

2

large eggs

2

teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Sanding sugar, for rolling

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl.

    Step 2

    In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat to combine. Reduce speed to low, and gradually add flour mixture; beat to combine. Form dough into a flattened disk, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill until firm, about 1 hour.

    Step 3

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Roll each ball in sanding sugar. Place on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until set, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating halfway through. Transfer to a rack to cool for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies from baking sheet to wire rack. Cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

Martha Stewart's Cookies