Chocolate Butter Cookies

Yield: 3 dozen

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup Land O Lakes Butter, softened

1 egg

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa

Directions:

In large mixer bowl, combine sugar and butter. Beat at medium speed until creamy (1 to 2 minutes.) Add egg and almond extract; continue beating until well mixed (1 minute.) Reduce speed to low; beat, gradually adding flour and cocoa, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes.)

Divide dough into thirds. Wrap each third in waxed paper; refrigerate until firm (1 to 2 hours.)

Heat oven to 375 F. With floured hands, shape dough, one-third at a time (keep remaining dough refrigerated) into 1-inch balls. Form balls into desired shapes (balls, squares, logs, etc.) or use cookie press*. Place 1-inch apart on cookie sheet.

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until set (surface may crack slightly.) Cool. Decorate as desired using powdered sugar, colored sprinkles, nuts, frosting

Tip: Too much flour can make your cookies dry and crumbly. To measure flour, spoon into measuring cup and level off with a straight edge.

*If using cookie press, dough does not need to be chilled.

Recipe compliments of Land O Lakes

Please note that some ingredients and brands may not be available in every store.