Chipotle Crackle Cookies

Desserts

I usually bake these special cookies for the holidays, but my family loves them so I bake them for their birthdays. The addition of ground chipotle chili pepper gives these cookies a little zing. The dough may be sticky so I dip my hands in confectioners' sugar for easier handling.

Average Rating: 4.5

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch
YIELD: 2-1/2 dozen.

Ingredients

2 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon toasted wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla until combined. Add melted chocolate. Combine flour, wheat germ, baking powder, salt and chipotle pepper. Gradually add to egg mixture and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350°. Place confectioners' sugar in a small bowl. Shape dough into 1-in. balls; roll in confectioners' sugar. Place 2 in. apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 85 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 35mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges:
1 starch, 1/2 fat.