By the Batch - Chocolate Crackles

While new and different cookies are all well and good, sometimes you just want to sink your teeth into a traditional and typical chocolate cookie. That was the mood we were in this weekend when my husband picked Chocolate Crackles as this week's cookie.

I should note that the version on Martha's website is slightly different from the one in her Cookies book. I made the version from the book.

Ingredients:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole milk
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions:
Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring. Set aside and let cool. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

With an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in eggs and vanilla, and then the melted chocolate.

Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk. Divide dough into four equal pieces. Wrap each in plastic; refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350F. Divide each piece into 16 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar to coat, then in confectioners' sugar to coat.

Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake until surfaces crack, about 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

According to Sarah:
While these cookies were a bit time consuming what with chopping chocolate and refrigerating dough, I didn't mind a bit because they turned out so delicious. They are like really light and fluffy brownies in the shape of a cookie. Our house smelled amazing and Chris is already putting in requests for a second batch - I will definitely make these again!

I did substitute semisweet chocolate and skim milk because they were what I had on hand but I doubt it made much of a difference. Not one that bothered us anyway :)