After 26 years of marriage, Anne still loves baking up a snack to surprise her husband Pat.
“My husband Pat and I live in a college residence hall apartment with a tiny kitchen,” says Anne Chang of Mahwah, New Jersey. “But in spite of that, I’ve taught a number of students to cook and/or bake.
“One alumnus credits me with helping him ‘win’ his wife over, as he was able to cook for her while they were dating! When a student comes to my kitchen to learn how to make muffins, bread, or spaghetti sauce, it’s much more than helping them learn a skill. It gives them an opportunity to talk to an adult who is not their parent or their peer in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s all about doing something that connects us all. And I’ve found that so many people don’t really cook or bake from scratch, so even the simplest of efforts produces rave reviews.”
It is her Cocoa Balls that win Anne raves at holiday time. “When I was growing up, our Christmas Eve meal always ended with a big platter of Christmas cookies. There were always different varieties,” Anne confides. “Now I do the same thing—and Cocoa Balls have a place on my Christmas platter.”
Anne shares, "The quality of the cocoa powder really matters to these cookies."
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter until fluffy. Add the sugar gradually and mix until light and fluffy. Add the VANILLA and the nuts and mix well. Reduce the mixer speed and gradually add the flour, salt and sifted COCOA POWDER and mix well. Chill the dough thoroughly (about 2 hours or overnight).
Preheat oven to 350°. Using about 1 TB. of dough for each cookie, shape it into balls and place on a parchment paper-lined or greased cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake at 350° for approximately 18 minutes—do not over-bake. Remove the cookies to a rack and cool completely.
Nutritional Information: Servings 15;
Serving Size 2 cookies (50g); Calories 270; Calories from fat 190; Total fat 22g; Cholesterol 35mg; Sodium 105mg; Carbohydrate 20g; Dietary Fiber 2g.
