Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Today, around lunchtime, I started craving chocolate chip cookies. Particularly a warm one, fresh out of the oven. I made all my friends hungry by talking about it. I asked my dad to pick up some m&ms on his way home, so that I could make some m&m cookies (I am currently out of chocolate chips). However, when he got home, there were only enough to fill half a cup.
No worries, I found something else.
Before today, I had never had chocolate crinkle cookies. When I was little, I did not like powdered sugar, so I always steered clear of any dessert that had powdered sugar on top. As a result, I missed out on a lot of great cookies and bars. I've gotten over my hate of powdered sugar, and have been trying to catch up on everything I missed. At Christmas, my grandma made Russian tea cakes, which are shortbread balls covered in powdered sugar. I had never had those before either, and they are fantastic.
Chocolate crinkle cookies have a distinct look: they puff up and crackle as they bake, so the dark brown cracks contrast with the powdered sugar exterior. I think they are the prettiest cookies I've ever made, and easily some of the most delicious.
First you mix the dry ingredients in one bowl.

Then you beat the butter and sugar together (I used my hand mixer)

Add two eggs and some vanilla.

Add the flour mixture, and beat until just blended.

Make rounded balls of dough and drop into the powdered sugar.

Roll the ball in the powdered sugar until covered, and then place the balls on a greased baking sheet. I had to use some nonstick cake pans because they are the only pans that fit in my mini oven. My regular oven is broken.

Bake the cookies until they are crackled and puffed. Remove and cool the pan on a rack for 15 minutes.

They are so pretty. Eek. I love the contrast of the dark brown and white. And they taste like brownies :).

My brother and my dad ate about 10 of them. Yummmm.
By the way, I got a new apron this weekend! My friends and I went to go see Wicked in SF, and they were selling these aprons:

I love it :). It satisfies my love of cooking AND my love of theatre! Now if only there were a horse on it... :).

Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter (room temperature)

1 1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Grease 2 baking sheets and set aside.
2. Put the confectioners' sugar into a bowl and set aside.
3. In another bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and the vanilla and beat again until blended.
5. Add the flour mixture, and beat on low speed until just combined.
6. Using a tablespoon, scoop up a rounded spoonful of dough and roll it into a ball. Roll the ball in confectioners' sugar until coated, then place onto a greased cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. The cookies should be about 2 inches apart.
7. Put a baking sheet in the oven and bake the cookies at 350 degrees F until they are crackled and puffed, 10-12 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and cool it on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Repeat with remaining baking sheet.
8. Eat.

Source: Williams Sonoma