faux chocolate mountain cookies.

Yesterday I was dying for a chocolate mountain cookie from Caper's. I had found a recipe at nymag.com for a similar cookie, but they were flourless and they called for ingredients I didn't have on hand (good thing because the comments on it eventually emerged as less than complimentary). I took to the interwebs and found what appeared to be a workable substitute. I highly recommend the Hershey's Kitchens recipes-- there are few things I adore more than their "Perfectly Chocolate" cake.* Here's the recipe:**


Faux Chocolate Mountain Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened (I used butter and wouldn't have it any other way)
  
• 1-1/2 cups sugar (a touch of brown might be nice)
  
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• powdered sugar
  

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl until light and fluffy. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet (or a pizza stone!).

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or just until set (I went for 8-- used a sturdy metal spatula because cookies were thin and sorta fragile). Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack (covered with wax paper). Use a sifter to cover tops in powdered sugar or just dip 'em in a bowl of that goodness. Cool completely. About 3-1/2 dozen cookies. Don't leave them out on the counter because within hours, somebody else will eat them all, and then you won't get any.***

*These things include, but are not limited to: nieces, night bike rides, reunions after long absences, international travel and the self-satisfied feeling of getting a good grade.

**unmodified recipe can be found here. I don't see the need for additional chocolate in these because these cookies are so stinking rich and sweet as is. And nuts in cookies are gross.

***true story. So glad it didn't happen to me!