Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten.

– Stitch, Lilo and Stitch

I can’t believe 2017 has nearly come to an end. It’s been a jammed packed year, full of so many crazy memories. As we reach the final days of 2017 it’s the perfect time to destress and unwind with friends and family while enjoying a bunch of delicious food. Christmas is just around the corner; the decorations are up, carols are being sung and presents are under the tree!

I love this time of the year. Being able to spend time the with people you love and share a marvellous meal together. As we get into the festive celebrations we get to look back on all the events which happened throughout the year and wonder where the year has gone. Just being able to look back and see all the wonderful things everyone has experienced and be amazed at the unexpected and unplanned. Although every year we try our best to figure out what it’s going to look like and how we can better ourselves, we can never fully prepare for what will happen.

As unplanned situations come along, it’s always important to really be in the moment and enjoy life. I must admit, I’m guilty of being somewhere and thinking about what I’m doing next. I sometimes forget to enjoy where I am and who I’m with. Christmas has always been the perfect reminder to appreciate your friends and family, as you look back on the year and see the memories you’ve made with them, the support they showed you and just seeing how much they all care for you. It’s amazing what hindsight reveals.

Every Christmas I try to give out a little thank you, last year I made hot coco powder and this year I made cookies. To me, this is the least I could do to say thank you. Although this is a small token of gratitude, I think it’s the small things that really count.

These chocolate cookies have a nice crunch on the outside and have a moist centre. It’s almost like a brownie meets cookie, but it’s not a brownkie. They look wonderfully festive with the white icing sugar on the outside looking like snow. This recipe is from Mommy’s Home Cooking. Perfectly bite sized, meaning you can eat quite a few in one seating if you can handle the strong chocolatey flavour. I recommend gobbling them down with a glass of milk!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp  baking powder
1 pinch salt
3/4  cup granulated sugar
115 g butter, softened
4 tbsp water
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 tsp  vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar, for coating

METHOD

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt until combined.  Set aside.
2. Beat the sugar and butter for 3 minutes or until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add in the water, baking powder and vegetable oil, beating until combined. Add in vanilla.
3. Gradually add in the flour mixture, and beat until combined.
4. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Prepare three baking trays.
5. Roll the dough into balls and coat each ball in powdered sugar before placing onto prepared baking sheets.
6. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes. Let cool slightly before transferring the cookies to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

NOTES

–  Recipe from ‘Mommy’s Home Cooking’