MARBLED CHOCOLATE-VANILLA COOKIES

For a very distinct marbled pattern, handle this dough as little as possible

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

½ tsp. baking pwsder

¼ tsp. table salt

2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened

¾ cups granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2 tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder

2 oz. semisweet chocolate (preferably high quality),

Melt semisweet chocolate and cool slightly

 In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl using a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the egg and vanilla, scrape the bowl, and beat 

again until blended.  Lower the speed and add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. 

Remove half the dough and set it aside.  Whisk the cocoa into the melted chocolate; 

add to the dough remaining in the mixing bowl and beat briefly to blend.

Divide the chocolate and vanilla doughs into 8 pieces each, more or less the same size. 

Recombine the pieces, alternately pressing the chocolate and vanilla pieces together, to create a marbled ball.  

On a lightly floured surface, roll and shape the ball into a 9” long log.  Wrap in plastic and chill until firm, 2 to 3 hours. 

Heat the oven to 350 degree F.  Line baking sheet with a non-stick baking liner or parchment paper.  Unwrap the firm dough, one log at a time and roll the log briefly on the counter to make it more evenly round.  Cut it crosswise into ¼” thick slices; arrange the slices 1 ½ inch on the sheet.    Bake until edges are lightly browned, 9 to 11 minutes.  Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer the cookies to a rack to cool completely.

My hubby didn't think these were at all bad but I'm really disappointed.  The end results look more like quarter size cookies.  They were supposed to be a little bigger at least that's the way they  look in the Fine Living magazine (yes, another Christmas cookie recipe from that magazine).  They're not as chocolaty as I had hoped.  What I'm going to do next time is make four marbled balls instead of 8, that way when I roll them into a log, they will be a bigger cookie.  Well, as long as my hubby is happy, that's all that matters!  ~isavortheweekend