Grandma Opal's Chocolate Cookies

Prep: 15 min

Cook: 9 Min

Total: 29 min

1 cup shortening (Crisco Baking Sticks work perfectly)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

1 teaspoon baking soda, sifted

1/2 teaspoon salt, sifted

3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

1 cup toasted chopped pecans (optional, see below for toasting instructions)

Step 1: Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 2: Sift flour with baking soda, salt, and unsweetened cocoa powder; set aside.

Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening with both sugars at medium speed until creamy and lightened in color.

Step 4: Add eggs and vanilla, one at a time. mix on low speed until incorporated.

Step 5: Gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture. Stir in nuts (optional)

Step 6: Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Press down on each with your finger to make them slightly flat without making them too thin. You want them to be more of a disc than a ball.

Step 7: Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until the cookies don't look raw in the middle. They will look slightly wet, that is okay. They're a soft cookies and since they're chocolate it can be easy to overbake them. I wouldn't go more than 11 min.

Step 8: After letting them sit for a couple minutes on the cookie sheet, remove them to a rack and let them cool.

Toasting Pecans:

There are several ways to do this but this is my preferred way to do it.

Step 1: Chop pecans to about the size of a tictac.

Step 2: Heat a skillet on med-high heat and add about a teaspoon (maybe a little more) of oil to the pan. I prefer avocado oil but you can use any good oil.

Step 3: Once the pan and oil are heated, add the pecans carefully so you don't splatter the oil. 

Step 4: Stir the nuts around in the pan to prevent them from burning.

Step 5: When you start to see them get darker and smell like they are toasting, add a pinch of kosher salt and continue to stir until they are as toasted as you would like without letting them burn.

Step 6: Pour onto a dry paper towel and allow to cool for a few minutes. Try really hard not to eat them all before they can be added to the cookies. :(