Soft Chocolate Cookies

This is a recipe for easy and good chocolate cookies. "Soft" doesn't mean crumbly or boring -- there is just the slightest chewy consistency like molasses cookies. Clare found the recipe and I'm putting it on here to have it available. She has a beautiful homemade recipe book; I use my blog to keep track of recipes I like, at least for the present ;-).

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup baking cocoa
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

* confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.
2. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with a fork if desired.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are firm. Remove to wire racks. Dust warm cookies with confectioners' sugar.
4. Put them on a plate and let your cute 10 year old serve them, but if you do, be warned:
   

He may think plastic swords make a great finishing touch!