Ingredients

The following ingredients have 12 Servings
  • Nonstick cooking spray (for coating the baking sheets)
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
  • 1 package (6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips)
  • 1/2 cup pecans (finely chopped, or crushed peppermint or other candies)

Instruction

  • Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Lightly coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
  • Cream together the butter and confectioners’ sugar in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and flour and continue mixing, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed, until well combined and a dough forms, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Shape the dough into 2 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch logs (or into small mounds for round cookies) and place them 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Flatten three quarters of each log slightly with the tines of a fork, leaving the tip unflattened.
  • Bake until lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack.5 Meanwhile, combine the shortening and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave at 45-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Dip the unflattened end of each cookie into the melted chocolate and place on a plate. Sprinkle with chopped pecans and let cool.