Midnight Snack?

For the last week I seem to have gotten into a terrible habit of staying up way past my usual bedtime.  I am forever cutting circles for my Daisy Pads and have been trolling the Internet looking for design inspiration for my online store.  It is during these wee hours of the night I find I need a little snack and a cup of tea.  I could go for the healthy option, but it usually is something sweet that I crave.  And now I have come across what is just the perfect temptation for the recipe of the week Midnight Cookies.  They are fast to make (under 10 mins of preparation) and they have all the elements that I love.  Little crunch, softer middles and chocolate.  Yes, my friends chocolate.  Any good creative mind knows that we all work better when there is tea and chocolate involved.  I would say wine, but as I sew, wine does not seem to mix well with sharp scissors and needles. 

Midnight Cookies

These are tasty little morsels and so quick and easy to make.  I fancied mine up a little with a dusting of icing sugar and put them on my good china!  Does make them just that little bit more special.  I would give these a most definite thumbs up!  They are chocolatey without being too sweet.  I've even added a few options for you to try out as well to make them your own. 

Enjoy!

Midnight Cookies
125 g/ 4 1/2 oz butter softened
175g/ 6 oz caster sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
125g / 4 1/2 oz plain flour
35g / 1 1/4 oz cocoa powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Preheat oven to 180C/350F.  Line several large baking sheets with baking paper.  

Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat together until light and fluffy.  Add the egg and vanilla extra and mix until smooth.  Sift in the flour, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda and beat until well mixed.

With dampened hands, roll walnut-sized pieces of the dough into smooth balls.  Place on the baking sheets, spaced well apart.  

Baked in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until set.  Leave to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely before serving.

Additional options:

1) Drizzle melted chocolate in a zigzag fashion across the cookies and leave to set before serving

2) Sprinkle granulated sugar on a large plate and roll the ball of dough in the sugar to coat before placing on the baking sheets

3) After baking and cooled, dust with pure icing sugar.