Chocolate Cookie Recipe

We have a favorite chocolate cookie recipe to share with you. It's one we make every Christmas to go in our goody bags.

Frosted Chocolate-Nut Drops

1¼ cups sifted all-purpose flour
¼ teasp. baking soda
½ cup soft shortening
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg, unbeaten
2 sq. unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 teasp. vanilla extract
½ teasp. salt
½ cup buttermilk or 7 tablesp. milk plus 2 teasp. vinegar
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Start heating oven to 350°F. Sift flour with baking soda. Mix shortening, brown sugar, egg, chocolate, vanilla, and salt until well-blended. Stir in flour mixture, then buttermilk. Stir in nuts. On to greased cookie sheets, drop level tablespoonfuls of dough, 2" apart. Bake 12 to 15 min., or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool; then frost with Creamy Frosting, below.

Makes 3 doz.

Creamy Frosting:
In medium bowl, blend 2 tablesp. soft shortening, 1 tablesp. soft butter or margarine, ¼ teasp. salt, 1 teasp. vanilla extract with ½ cup sifted confectioner's sugar. Alternately add 2 ½ cups sifted confectioner's sugar with 5 tablesp. hot light cream, beating until smooth and creamy. If desired, dribble frosted cookies with chocolate (melt 1 sq. unsweetened chocolate with 1 teasp. shortening).