Hot Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

These cocoa shortbread cookies taste just like hot chocolate in a cookie form.  They are fabulously rich yet light.

Ingredients:

- 1/2c cold butter

- 1/2c powdered sugar

- 1/4c cocoa powder

- 1/4t coarse salt

- 1/2t vanilla

- 1c flour

- 1/4c heavy cream

- 2oz white chocolate

In the bowl of a food processor combine the sugar, cocoa, and salt and process to combine.  Cut the cold butter into small pieces by cutting it in half length-wise and then each half of the stick in half length-wise again so you have 4 small sticks.  Then cut the sticks into about ten pieces so you have small pats of butter.  

With the blade running, add the butter a few pieces at a time until the butter is fully mixed and the dough is crumbly.  Add the vanilla.  

Pack the dough together into a ball.  If the dough is too dry to hold together you may have to add about one tablespoon of water.  I also found that it helped to let the dough sit in the blender for a few minutes and then process it again after the butter has softened slightly.   

Roll out on a surface lightly dusted with powdered sugar.  Cut out cookies and place on a cookie sheet.

Bake at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Cool.

Heat the cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a very soft simmer, the add the white chocolate and stir until melted and smooth.  When smooth, turn off the heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.  Then dip a spoon in the chocolate and let drizzle over the cookies.