Braces-Friendly October Recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 Tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Using cocoa powder instead of melted baking chocolate is one of the secrets to baking soft cookies (another is using shortening instead of margarine or butter). If you’re looking for a change from brownies, this is a great melt-in-your-mouth alternative. In a large bowl, combine shortening, sugar, water, and vanilla, using an electric mixer and beating until smooth. Add eggs and mix until blended. Mix flour, cocoa, salt, and baking powder slowly into shortening mixture, using low then medium speed.

Drop by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 9 minutes at 375 degrees, makes about three dozen. Store cookies in a covered container to keep soft.