a recipe to share

I want to share some recipes in my blog so I thought this was a good one to start. I got the original recipe at a cookie exchange when my older children were preschool age (at least twenty years ago!) but I have modified it over the years. One of my dear friends says these are her favorites so I try to make them for her birthday. I just made them for her and a couple of other friends whose birthdays we were celebrating a couple of weeks ago and for a diaper shower we had at our Bible study last week. They are chewy, brownie-like and as they bake they crackle so that no two are alike...thus the name

Chocolate Snowflakes

2 c. sugar
3/4 c. cocoa ( I use regular unsweetened cocoa with a couple of tablespoons of dutch-process cocoa)
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. butter, melted
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. powdered sugar, sifted

Combine the first four ingredients in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until blended. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well. Combine flour, salt and baking powder. Add about 1/4 of dry ingredients at a time to chocolate mixture, mixing well after each addition. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar. wire racks. Place cookies 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes. Don't over bake! Cool on wire racks. This will make about 8 dozen very small cookies, great for teas and lady-parties.
[If you prefer to make the balls a bit larger, 1 1/2 inch balls, you will have about 6 dozen. The ones pictured are about this size.]