Italian Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all purpose flour 
• 4 teaspoons baking powder 
• 3/4 cup white sugar 
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 1 cup softened butter or margarine 
• 1/3 cup milk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts 
• 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate 
• 1 tablespoon softened margarine or butter 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar 
• 1/4 cup hot milk 

Method

Preheat oven to 375° F. Sift 3 cups flour twice. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, white sugar and cocoa. Cream 1 cup butter or margarine; blend into flour mixture. 
Add 1/3 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla and nuts. Mix thoroughly with hands until well blended. (Dough should be the consistency of pie crust, but not sticky). For each cookie, pinch off about 1 teaspoon of dough. 
Roll by hands into balls each about 1 inch in diameter. Place on greased baking sheets. 
Do not flatten. Bake about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from baking sheets; cool on racks. When cool , drizzle each generously with chocolate frosting. 
Sprinkle with candy sprinkles if desired. 

To Make Chocolate Frosting 

Melt the chocolate squares over low heat. 
Cream with 1 tablespoon of butter or margarine, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 cups confectioners' sugar. Gradually add hot milk, beating until smooth. 

Yield: 4 dozen 

Submitted by: Anna Z.