Lump of Coal Cookies

Every Christmas season I try to make something from my kitchen for my husband's co-workers.  In the past I've made Cattleman's Salad Dressing and Mexican Restaurant Relish.  This year I was in the mood to bake, but I wasn't sure if I would lean toward cookies or cupcakes or muffins or cakes or bread or what.  I had seen some cute mini cupcake carriers that held 9 cupcakes or muffins.  They were red, making them the ideal color and size for gifts.  But I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to find as many as I needed.  Little Devil and I were wandering around Michael's, adding more materials to our craft stash and more projects to our to-do list when I saw these cute burlap sacks that said, "COAL."  I couldn't resist getting them.  I've seen lots of recipes online for "lumps of coal" using rice krispie treats, crushed oreos and even black food coloring.  There's just something unappetizing about black food coloring so I decided to go with the natural coloring of dark chocolate.  These cookies are a variation of Little Devil's Brownie Cookies that she makes for her boyfriend.  I used the Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa and the Nestle's Dark Chocolate Chips.  They really do look like lumps of coal, but they taste even better.  I packaged the cookies in plastic bags before slipping into the burlap sacks.  Honestly you don't even need the burlap sacks.  Just the bag tied with a cute ribbon and the paper tags would make the perfect treat.  I've included the tags for you.  Just print them out, whip up a batch of these cookies and you'll have an adorable, tasty treat for everyone on your list.  Nice or Naughty!

Aren't they just the cutest?

I love these black burlap sacks, but really
any bag will do!

And this is how you get the dough
so dark...

It's almost black.
Like coal!

Good thing I have so many cookie sheets,
I tripled the batch.

Lined up and ready for the oven.

Here they are all packaged up.

Can you believe how dark they turn out?

A super delicious, extra dark
chocolate cookie.

This is a lump a coal
no one will mind getting!

Here are the printable tags I made for you.

Click on the image to enlarge.
Right click and save to your computer.
Open with the software of your choice
and print onto cardstock.
These images are my exclusive artwork.
Please be courteous when using these printables
and remember they are for personal use only.

This makes me laugh.
I sent it to my brother. 
Even though he's 54 and I'm 44
it's still funny.  And true. 

Lump of Coal Cookies
(makes approximately 2 dozen)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup dark cocoa (I used Hershey's Special Dark)
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch Kosher salt
2 sticks unsalted butter
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 (10 ounce) package dark chocolate chips (I used Nestle's)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Line an ungreased cookie sheet with parchment paper.  In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.  In the bowl of a stand mixer cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.  Add eggs, one at a time, until well mixed.  Add flour mixture slowly, a little at a time until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Use a large cookie scoop (I used the 2-tablespoon size) scoop dough onto prepared cookie sheets.  Bake approximately 12 minutes or until cookies appear set.  Let cool on pan for a few minutes before removing to rack to cool completely.