Tutus Aka Italian Chocolate Cookies Recipes

ITALIAN CHOCOLATE BALLS (TUTTU BALLS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spread almonds onto a baking sheet.
• Bake almonds until toasted and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven and cool almonds slightly; chop.
• Sift flour 2 times. Mix cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together with flour in a bowl. Beat white sugar, shortening, and eggs together in a separate bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
• Mix creamed mixture into flour mixture. Add almonds, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract to flour mixture and mix well using your hands or a large spoon until dough holds together and is smooth. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the oven until bottoms are slightly brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Stir confectioners' sugar and almond extract together in a bowl; add enough water to make a thin frosting. Roll cookies in the frosting and place on a wire rack to dry.

ITALIAN CHOCOLATE BALL COOKIES (TAYTU'S)

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• 2. FOR THE COOKIES: In large bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves. Set aside.
• 3. In another bowl, cream sugar and shortening with a mixer until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time until well incorporated. Mix in chocolate syrup and vanilla.
• 4. Add chocolate mixture to dry ingredients. Stir until well incorporated. Mix in nuts.
• 5. Dough should form a ball, but not be sticky (if dough is too sticky, put a little flour on your hand to roll into a ball).
• 6. Roll mixture into 1 inch balls. Place balls 1 inch apart on parchment paper and bake about 12-15 minutes or until cookie is firm, but NOT DRY. Let cookies cool before frosting.
• 7. FOR THE FROSTING: Mix sugar, milk and extract to make a sugar glaze in a bowl. Dip the top of the cookies in the bowl and sit the cookies on a baking rack with wax paper underneath to catch any drippings. If you don't have one, then I'd just use wax paper. Immediately top the cookies with sprinkles before glaze dries.
• 8. Allow icing to harden overnight.

TATUS (TOTOS ITALIAN CHOCOLATE COOKIES)

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine dry ingredients. Set aside.
• 2. In a mixer, beat eggs. Add shortening and sugar, mix until combined.
• 3. Add chocolate syrup and beat until smooth.
• 4. Incorporate dry ingredients and stir just until combined. (Do not overmix).
• 5. Fold in pecans. Refrigerate dough for about an hour to reduce stickiness and make it easier to roll.
• 6. Roll into small balls (about 1 inch) and bake for 8 minutes. Do not overbake.
• 7. Once cookies are cool, mix glaze to desired consistency.
• 8. Dip tops in the glaze.
• 9. Allow icing to completely dry.