Chocolate Lulus

Chocolate Lulus
Source: Maida Heatter's Brand-New Book of Great Cookies (Random House, 1995 ed.), pg. 140.

These cookies are very tasty with a strong cocoa flavor and a hint of pepper. I have to confess that I don't detect the pepper - let me know if you do. These are very easy to make and they don't involve a mixer! 

3 oz. semisweet chocolate
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 TBS. unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. finely ground black or white pepper
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Granulated sugar (for coating the cookies)

Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment or foil.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. 

Mix in the brown sugar. Stir for a minute and remove from the heat.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, cocoa, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Beat the egg slightly with the vanilla.

Add the chocolate mixture to the egg and vanilla.

Add the flour mixture.

Drop rounded teaspoons of the dough onto a piece of foil.

Roll the dough into smooth balls.

Roll the balls in sugar to coat.

Press slightly with a fork.

Bake for 12 minutes, reversing the sheets halfway through baking. Do not overbake. The cookies should be semi-firm on the edges and slightly soft in the middle. They will crisp as they cool. 

Store in an airtight container.