With the kids being home due to April holidays, there will of course be trips planned. These extremely satisfying cookies will be a useful addition, whether you leave the house or not. Gooey, chocolaty and just an explosion of satisfaction, the only emotion to feel when introduced to them, is pure joy. Also deceptively easy to make, there is nothing else that compares, and it's the holidays live freely, forget diets and expanding hips, it's chocolate goodness in little bites that should not be missed. 

Ingredients 

1 cup butter, softened 
1 1/2 cups white sugar 
2 eggs 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
2 cups all-purpose flour 
2/3 cup cocoa powder 
3/4 teaspoon baking soda 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) 

Method 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 

In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Mix in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. 

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or just until set. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. 

By Mayuri Jayasinghe