Chocolate Earthquake Cookies

Unless you live under a rock you heard about the Earthquake that shook the East Coast on August 23.  I happen to live very near the core of the Quake and have to say that even though the West Coast is laughing at us drama queens here in Virginia, it did scare the bejesus out of me.   Many of us here have never experienced an Earth quake before and I would be more than happen to never experience one again.  In light of the situation I decided it would be fitting to make Chocolate Earthquake cookies.  If nothing else, to laugh at ourselves, get back to normal and put a smile on my kids faces.  They do love their chocolate and these are bursting with a whole lot of it. 

Ingredients

8 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate ( 4 squares)
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat in a heavy saucepan until chocolate is almost melted, stirring frequently.

Remove from heat and let chocolate finish melting, then cool.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs until well beaten.

Whisk in sugar, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture.

Add flour, baking powder and salt, and whisk until smooth.

Chill the mixture until firm, at least 2 hours, and up to 24 hours.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly butter one or two baking sheets.

Place powdered sugar in a small bowl.

Using about a teaspoon of the cookie dough, roll it between your palms to shape into a ball.

Roll the ball in powdered sugar to coat, then place on baking sheet, you should be able to get a dozen on a sheet.

Bake for 12 minutes, switching placement of baking sheets at half point if you are baking 2 sheets at once.