Mini chip snowball cookies (Italian version)

The mini chip snowball cookies I make are a big hit with family and friends and so easy to make.  I made some for my youngest goddaughter Sara’s high school graduation Friday and for her grad party yesterday.  Rob wished he had brought home one, so i whipped up another batch today.  These are an Italian wedding cake cookies version, instead of using powdered sugar, they use regular granulated sugar.  It does make them a little more tender and fragile, but Rob deemed them still very good!

I recommend scooping your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Also chill (or freeze) the individual doughs for  a few hours before baking, preheat your oven before baking.  And, sprinkle powdered sugar on before baking, right after they come out of the oven and after they cool for 3 times the sweetness!

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tbs vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • Powdered sugar

Directions – in a bowl, cream butter, sugar and vanilla.  Blend in flour, then mini chips.   Scoop our 2 tbs of dough, roll into a ball then thick disc.   Dip each side in powdered sugar.   Chill or freeze doughs a few hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 320 degrees.   Line a cookie sheet with a nonstick baking liner or parchment paper.   Place cookies on sheet (i fit 3 to a row, these did spread a little because I only chilled them an hour).   Bake  18 to 22 minutes (bottoms will be light golden).    Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with powdered sugar. 

Cool completely.   Sprinkle with more powdered sugar and store in covered container.

Italian (olive oil) chocolate chip cookies

In honor of opening day of the Stanley Cup and NBA playoffs and my Sabres first playoff game in more than a decade on Sunday, I present italian chocolate chip cookies.  What makes them Italian, you ask?  I used olive oil instead of butter or crisco 😉

Remember to scoop your flour from your flour bag into your measuring cup so you get the right amount.  Firmly packed your brown sugar into your measuring cup.  I used mini chocolate chips, but you can use regular.  I do recommend freezing the dough for a half hour to an hour, or chilling it in the fridge for a few hours. And preheat your oven before baking.

  • Ingredients list
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbs vanilla
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, ground

Directions – in a bowl, combine oil, sugar and brown sugar.   Add egg, vanilla and water.   Mix in dry ingredients.   Fold in chips and nuts.  Scoop out 1/4 cups dough.  Freeze 30 minutes.   Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Stagger cookies on sheet.

Bake 10 to 13 minutes, no longer.  

Cool completely.  Store in covered container.

Italian (olive oil) brownies

  • Ingredients list
  • 11/2 tbs water
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions- preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray an  8×8 pan with pam and line with parchment paper, set aside.   In a bowl, combine water, oil and cocoa.  Microwave 45 seconds.  Let sit 2 minutes.  Blend in eggs and vanilla.  Add flourand salt. Mix in chips.   Spread into pan.  Bake 18 to 19 minutes, no longer.