Chocolate Caliente Cookies

Total Time: 27 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups nestlã‰â® toll houseâ® semi-sweet chocolate chunks, divided
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/16 teaspoon pinch ground cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 microwave 1 cup chunks in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on high (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. chunks may retain some of their original shape. if necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until chunks are melted.
• 2 combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and cayenne pepper in small bowl. beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. add eggs and vanilla extract; beat well. add melted chocolate; stir until blended. gradually stir in flour mixture. refrigerate for 2 hours.
• 3 preheat oven to 350º f. line baking sheets with foil.
• 4 shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. place 3 inches apart on baking sheets.
• 5 bake for 12 minutes or until cookies are puffed and centers are set but still soft. immediately place remaining chunks, about 5 to 6 chunks per cookie, onto tops of cookies. cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks. allow chunks to soften and spread melted chocolate evenly over tops of cookies.
• 6 tip: for a richer chocolate flavor, substitute three 4-ounce bars of nestlé® toll house® chocolatier 53% cacao dark or 62% cacao bittersweet baking chocolate, broken into pieces, for the semi-sweet chocolate chunks.