Grandma Betty is the quintessential grandma – sweet, caring, loving and she bakes like a… well like a grandma! She makes the best Special K bars you will ever eat and then there are her chocolate cookies. Oh those chocolate cookies. She would bake them and keep them in an ice cream bucket in the freezer. When you came over she would send grandpa to go get the cookies from the freezer. Those cookies are heavenly half frozen, straight out of the oven and everything in between.
One of the reasons the cookies are so good is because they take a lot of work to get the icing just right – or at least that is what I am discovering. It was about a year ago that grandma announced she wasn’t going to make them anymore – they are simply too much work anymore. I completely understand but I remember having a mourning period about this announcement. To soften the blow grandma gave us the recipe for the cookie. Hallelujah! Crisis averted, right? Wrong. I have made the cookie three times now and after the second time making them I was able to get the cookie part right but the frosting has been utter failure each and everytime. I don’t know what it is. I follow the instructions to the T. Grandma has tried in vain to walk me through the recipe. But its like a math class – you get it while the teacher is walking you through it but once you are actually doing the assignment on your own its like 2+2 suddenly equals 5. As long as I have a recipe I can usually make a pretty decent meal or dessert but so far this one has me stumped. It looks like I’m in need of more practice, time and experience before I can proudly proclaim I bake like a grandma. Although in all honesty no ones cookies will ever be as good as Grandma Betty’s.
Out of pure frustration and a sweet tooth that just can’t let anymore of those delectable cookies go in the garbage, I have come up with an alternate frosting idea. Its not near as good as grandma’s version- but I have no problem eating 2 or 3…or more! So I’m going to share with you my version. But don’t worry grandma, I’m going to keep practicing and maybe one day I can get them half as good as yours.
Grandma’s Chocolate Cookies – Almost
Cookies:
- 1/2 C. Butter or Margerine
- 1 C. Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1/3 C. Cocoa + 1 Tbsp.
- 3/4 C. Buttermilk or Sour Milk
- 1 Tsp. Vanilla
- 1 3/4 C. Flour
- 1/2 Tsp. Salt
- 1/2 Tsp. Soda.
Mix together. Chill dough 1 hour. Bake on greased pan at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
Icing (my second rate version!):
As soon as the cookies are out of the oven take a large marshmallow that has been cut in 1/2 crosswise and push it in the center of the warm cookie. Then drizzle over the following chocolate icing.
- 1 C. Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tbsp. Melted Butter
- 1/8 C. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1/8 C. Hot Water
- 1/4 Tsp. Vanilla
Once you have drizzled the icing over. You can put festive sprinkles on if desired. Another idea might be to crumble up some graham crackers and sprinkle on. That could be down right yummy too.
Nothing on earth can compare to Grandma. I love this?