Mocha Truffle Cookies

Another good recipe snatched up from one of my sisters-in-law. Thanks, Ellen! I first tasted these decadent cookies when she made them for Joe's grad school graduation party in May of 2001. You just can't go wrong with chocolate and coffee!

½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 TBSP instant coffee crystals (I use decaf)
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
2 slightly beaten eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks (I use bittersweet)

Melt butter or margarine and the ½ cup chocolate chips in a large saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in coffee crystals; cool 5 minutes. Stir in granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium missing bowl. Stir into coffee mixture. Stir in the 1 cup chocolate pieces.

Roll rounded teaspoon of dough in your hands and place 2 inches apart onto a lightly greased cookie sheet, flatten dough slightly. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Let cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet. Transfer to wire racks and cool completely.

Makes 48