Christmas Cookies: Chocolate-Espresso Snowcaps

Fa-la-la-la-la finals :| Sorry...this inhabits my thoughts lately. I have my first one tomorrow at 8 AM in a class that I do not do the best in. Getting me up that early is automatically setting me up for failure. But I will try to remain confident. In any event...new cookie recipe for all! I found this one courtesy of Martha Stewart.

What you need:

- 1/2 cup all purpose flour

- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

- 4 tsp. instant espresso

- 1 tsp. baking powder

- 1/8 tsp. salt

- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter

- 2/3 cups packed, light brown sugar

- 1 large egg

- 4 oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled

- 1 tbsp. milk

- confectioner's sugar to coat

What to do:

- In a medium bowl mix together flour, cocoa powder, espresso, baking powder and salt. With an electric mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until well combined; mix in cooled chocolate. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture; beat in milk until combined. Flatten dough into a disk and wrap in plastic. Freeze until firm (about 45 minutes).

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Shape dough into 1 inch balls.  Pour confectioners sugar into a medium bowl and roll the balls in the sugar.

- Place two inches apart on baking sheet. Bake until cookies have spread and cracked about 12-14 minutes. Cool and enjoy! Makes 18 cookies

<3 Ashley