Mini Chocolate Bites
Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 1 hr 30 min
Makes: About 5 doz. or 30 servings, two cookies each
4 squares BAKER'S Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter (margarine: see tip)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Refrigerate 1 hour, or until dough is easy to handle.
SHAPE dough into 1-inch balls; place, 2 inches apart, on greased baking sheets. I use a sil mat (silicone mat) or parchment paper, instead of a greased cookie sheet.
BAKE 7-8 min. or just until set. Do not over bake. Jazz the cookie up by use of toppings. Right after they come out of the oven press one of the following options onto each cookie: chocolate glaze, chocolate chips, nuts, caramel, crushed peppermints. Let stand on baking sheet 1 min.; transfer to parchment paper. Cool completely. I cool the pan before I start the next group of cookies.
My choice of toppings is crushed peppermint sticks, chocolate covered coffee beans, cocoa nibs, peanut butter filled chocolate kisses and chocolate mint kisses. Do a combo of a kiss with a chocolate coffee bean in the center and roll some of the dough in crushed peppermint sticks. At times I will sprinkle powdered sugar over some of them to give a little more variety and kick.
Tip For best results, use butter. If using margarine, add additional 1/2 cup flour.
Bon Appétit
