Chocolate Wafer Cookies

These are pretty unassuming looking little cookies.  But what they lack in appearance, they make up for in rich chocolate flavor.  I have been making (and loving) these for a few years.  I used to roll out the dough and cut out shapes with cookie cutters.  But let's be honest--that takes quite a bit of time.  And since my inspiration for making these is usually that I want to make a pie with a chocolate cookie crumb crust, it didn't seem worth the effort.

Then I came across an idea to roll these into logs and just slice and bake after the dough has chilled.  Brilliant!  Why bother with cookie cutters if I'm just planning on pulverizing the little wafers anyway?  Not all of these will be needed for one pie crust, however.  And it is a very good thing to have a good-sized bag of extras hanging out waiting to be eaten.  I like to freeze them and pull some out to have with hot chocolate on chilly winter nights.

Chocolate Wafer Cookies
Yield: 60-75 small wafers
Ingredients:
3 sticks (3/4 pound) butter, room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups cocoa powder, sifted
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour

Directions:
1. Cream the butter and sugar on medium high speed until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.  Add the cocoa powder.  Mix on low speed until incorporated.

2. Add the eggs and vanilla, blend thoroughly.  Add the flour and mix on low speed until just incorporated.  Form the dough into three logs, about two inches in diameter.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm (at least 3 hours).

3. Position oven racks in middle and upper middle positions.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking liners.  Cut into slices 1/8-1/4-inch thick and place on cookie sheet, leaving space between each cookie to allow for spreading.

4. Bake for 14-19 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking time.  Allow to cool at least five minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool.  The wafers should become crisp as they cool.  If they are still soft, bake for a couple more minutes.  After they are completely cooled, these wafers keep very well in the freezer.

Source: recipe adapted from theprudenthomemakerblog.blogspot.com. slice and bake idea from smittenkitchen.com