Favorites: Easy Chocolate Cookies

Sometimes I just really want some warm chocolate cookies. And I don't want to wait too long :) This recipe, from Cooking Light, is perfect for those times. And it uses ingredients I almost always have on hand.  

Not only are these quick to make, but easy to clean up after as well - you can make the dough in one small saucepan on the stove. I added a handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the warm cookie dough and swirled them around a bit before scooping tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet. Definitely not necessary, but a nice touch if you have chocolate chips around. 

Cocoa Fudge Cookies, from Cooking Light
Makes 20-24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour (I used 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour + 1/2 cup spelt flour)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 
  
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 7 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Turn off the heat, add the cocoa powder and the sugars and stir to combine.
4. Add the yogurt and vanilla extract.
5. Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
6. Add a handful of chocolate chips or dried cherries if desired!
7. Drop tablespoons of dough onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and flatten slightly.
8. Bake 8-10 minutes until edges are set (err on the side of underbaking, since there are no eggs in the dough after all)
9. Cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes.

This is the first in a series of "favorites" that I'll be posting.  Check back for more to come!