Chocolate Blossom Bites

by Heather of Kitchen Concoctions: www.kitchen-concoctions.com

Prep Time: 20-30 minutes Wait Time: 30-60 minutes Bake Time: 8-9 minutes Yields: 32-40 cookies

4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar, packed

½ cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 (8 ounce) package Snickers or Milky Way Bites (or both!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place baking chocolate in microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds; remove from microwave and stir. Return chocolate to microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Stir and repeat melting process until chocolate is melted. Set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream together 2/3 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar and butter; mixing until light and fluffy. Slowly add in eggs and vanilla; beating until well mixed. Mix in melted baking chocolate.

In a separate bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating on low speed until thoroughly combined, scraping sides of bowl as needed.  

Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until dough is stiff and easy to work with.

Place remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small bowl. Using a tablespoon shape chilled dough into balls. Roll dough balls in sugar to evenly coat. Place dough on an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake for 8-9 minutes or until cookies begin to crack.

Remove from oven and immediately press one Snickers or Milky Way Bites into the center of each cookie. Place baking sheet back into the oven for an additional 10 seconds.

Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool slightly on baking sheet. Remove cookies from baking sheet and finish cooling on a wire rack.  Store cookies in an air tight container for 3-4 days.