Italian Desserts Recipes - Chocolate Spice Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1 cup butter

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 cup strong coffee, cooled

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pine nuts

• 1 recipe Powdered Sugar Icing

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Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. If desired, line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

2. In a large bowl stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and cloves.

3. Using a pastry blender, cut In butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well In the center of the flour mixture.

4. In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, coffee, vanilla, and orange peel. Pour egg mixture Into flour mixture and stir to combine. Stir in nuts. If necessary, cover and chill dough until easy to handle (1 to 2 hours).

5. Shape dough into walnut-size balls (each about 1 1/4 inches in diameter); place balls about 2 inches apart on ungreased or parchment lined cookie sheets.

6. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm. (Cookies may still appear soft. Do not over bake.) Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. Drizzle with Powdered Sugar Icing. Let icing dry.

POWDERED SUGAR ICING: In a small bowl stir together 1 cup sifted powdered sugar and enough milk (1 to 2 tablespoons) to make a drizzling consistency.

Note: If you want to make a large batch of cookies for gift-giving, double the recipe.