Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies

Everywhere you go nowadays you are faced with the combination of chocolate and chilli but chilli isn't the only warming spice that works with chocolate, try it with cinnamon and you'll find an even nicer blend.  Cinnamon adds spice without heat and responds to the sweetness of the chocolate in a way that has no effect on chilli.
This is a great recipe to make if you want warm cookies in the morning as the dough needs to be chilled for a few hours and overnight is perfect.  Knock it up in the evening, pop it in the fridge then bake them in the morning.  The chilled dough is also easier to handle and doesn't stick to your hands.

CHOCOLATE CINNAMON COOKIES

 

• 40z butter at room temperature
• 4.5oz golden caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla essence or paste
• 5oz plain flour
• 1oz cocoa
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 5oz (150g) milk chocolate, roughly chopped

Cream the butter and sugar together till light and fluffy
Add the egg and vanilla and beat together
Sift in the flour, cocoa, cinnamon and baking powder and fold in at the lowest speed to form a dough
Stir through the chocolate, remove to a bowl, cover and place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight
When you're ready preheat your oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5
Lightly grease a couple of baking tray
Roll your dough into balls about the size of a walnut (or 30g/1.25oz)

Place onto the trays and bake for 12-14 minutes until risen and cracked, they don't spread very much so do it all in one batch if you have room.  I did mine on two trays.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool for a couple of minutes then place on a wire rack to finish

Apparently these will keep in an air tight container for a few days but I have never known home made cookies to last that long!