Coffee in the Forest

These are great little chocolate cookies.  I used espresso powder instead of instant coffee, so they were a bit overly coffee, but still very good.  I have adjusted the coffee to reflect instant espresso powder.

Black Forest Bites

1 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups flour

1/4 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon espresso powder or 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chopped, drained, maraschino cherries

1 cup shredded coconut

powdered sugar for dusting

Beat butter until light. Add sugar, gradually. Beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, and almond extract. Blend well. 

Sift together flour, cocoa, coffee powder, and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in nuts, cherries and coconut. 

Chill for an hour or overnight. 

Ready to chill

Preheat oven to 325.  

Line baking sheets with parchment paper

Use the medium scoop and drop the dough balls onto prepared pans about 1 inch apart. 

Bake for 20 minutes

Remove cookies from pan and dip into powdered sugar, let cool on wire racks. 

First Dip

Once the cookies are cool, re-dip them in powdered sugar. 

Makes about 2 dozen