Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies
This recipe goes with Cookie Base

12 ounces semisweet chocolate (chopped or chips)
1 cup (4 ounces) chopped toasted almonds


Make the cookie base recipe, adding the chocolate and almonds. Shape, bake, and cool according to the base recipe.

To Make Now and Bake Later:
When you mix a batch of cookies, double the recipe.
Bake half the dough according to the recipe and divide the rest into 4 equal portions.
Roll each portion into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.Wrap each log in plastic, then place in a resealable plastic bag. To save yourself time and hassle, label the bag with the flavor, the oven temperature, and the baking time, adding 3 to 6 minutes to the regular oven time. Freeze the dough for up to 3 months. To bake, slice the frozen dough into rounds about 1/2 inch thick, making as few or as many as you would like. Bake on a
parchment- or foil-lined baking sheet.

Chocolate Cookie Bites
Serve these bite-size treats with homemade vanilla ice cream or your favorite ice cream.


3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, divided
1 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt


1. Place pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan.
2. Bake at 350° for 6 to 8minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring once halfway through baking time.
3. Beat 1 cup powdered sugar and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add milk and vanilla, beating until blended.
4. Combine flour, cocoa, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in pecans.
5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, and place 1 1/2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets.
6. Bake at 400° for 11 to 13 minutes or until tops of cookies just begin to crack. Cool on baking sheets 3 minutes. Remove to wire racks; dust with remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Cool 10 minutes.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies


1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup “measures-like-sugar" brown sugar calorie-free sweetener (such as Brown Sugar Twin)
1/2 cup egg substitute
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2/3 cup finely crushed sugar-free
peppermint candies (about 30 candies)
Cooking spray


Preheat oven to 350°.
Beat margarine with a mixer at medium speed until creamy; gradually add sugar and sweetener, beating well. Add egg substitute and vanilla; beat well.
Combine flour and next 4 ingredients. Add to margarine mixture, stirring just until blended. Stir in crushed candy. Drop dough by level tablespoonfuls onto wax paper. Roll into balls; place balls, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Flatten balls with a fork. Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove from pans, and let cool on wire racks.

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Marshmallow Cream Filling

Cookies:
1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup fat-free buttermilk
Cooking spray

Filling:
1 envelope unflavored gelatin (about 2 1/2 teaspoons)
3/4 cup cold water, divided
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup light-colored corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract


1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. To prepare cookies, combine 1 cup sugar and butter in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 2 minutes). Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and eggs; beat until combined. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, 1 teaspoon salt, baking powder, and baking soda; stir well with a whisk. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes or until set. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
4. To prepare filling, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water in a large bowl; set aside. Combine remaining 1/4 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, syrup, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 244°. Remove from heat. Gradually pour hot sugar syrup into softened gelatin mixture, beating with a mixer at low speed, then at high speed until thick (about 6 minutes),
scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; beat until well blended.
5. Quickly spread about 2 tablespoons filling over bottom side of 1 cookie; top with another cookie. Repeat procedure with remaining filling and cookies.

Cinnamon-Sugar Cookies
Buttery and sweet with a hint of spice, these cookie jar favorites are right for any occasion. If you prefer a slightly chewier cookie, reduce baking time to 10 minutes. A sprinkling of large-grained turbinado sugar makes a pretty presentation to attract buyers.


1 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup cake flour (about 4 ounces)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour (about 3 1/3 ounces)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup turbinado sugar


Place granulated sugar and butter in a bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 3 minutes). Add corn syrup, vanilla, and egg; beat 3 minutes or until well blended.
Lightly spoon cake flour and all-purpose flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir until just combined.Wrap in plastic wrap; chill 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375°.
Combine turbinado sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Shape dough into 48 balls, about 1 teaspoon each. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 12 minutes or until golden on bottom. Cool on wire racks.