Patti Anderson, a professional quilter, had never entered a cooking contest before she took our challenge. This quick, no-fuss, chewy chocolate cookie is made on your waffle iron. No need to haul out the big mixer, you can mix the batter with a small hand mixer or even by hand. Kids love these!

Makes 3 dozen cookies

ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1/2 cup salted butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

1. Preheat a nonstick (not Belgian) waffle iron.
2. Cream butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa powder, oil and espresso powder (if using). Beat until thoroughly combined.
3. Drop the batter by rounded teaspoonfuls about 1 inch apart onto the preheated ungreased waffle iron. (To avoid burnt fingers, use two spoons, one to scoop and one to scrape dough onto the waffle iron.) Close and cook until the cookies are puffed and cooked through, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Waffle irons vary, so watch closely and don’t let the cookies get too dark. Transfer to a wire rack to cool until just warm. Dust the cookies with confectioners’ sugar while still slightly warm (see Variations).

Variations: Instead of confectioners’ sugar, drizzle cooled cookies with melted bittersweet and/or white chocolate. Or make a peppermint drizzle: Mix 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, 4 teaspoons water and 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract; add natural green food coloring, if desired.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per cookie: 63 calories; 4 g fat (2 g sat, 1 g mono); 18 mg cholesterol; 7 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 22 mg sodium; 18 mg potassium.
1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1/2 other carbohydrate, 1/2 fat

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 day. Dust with additional confectioners’ sugar just before serving.

I love the concept and the way these look! Wonder if people in Arizona or Florida can relate?

Anonymous, Burlington, VT

These are a wonderful little cookie to make and everyone raves over. Fun for kids and adults. When people ask what kind of cookies they are and you tell them boot tracks with an explanation it adds to the uniqueness of these cookies. A keeper of a recipe!

Betty A., Bakerstown, PA

I love making these cookies because they only take a little over a minute and they are really delicious. I brought them to a party and they were gone quickly!!

Barbara Hughston, Dana Point, CA

I used my Pizzelle Maker for these, since I didn't have a Waffle Iron. Fabulous even without sugar!! When warm you can also roll them around a wooden spoon handle, and fill them with a fruit or cream filling!

D. Carleton, Carmichael, CA

These are great, easy to make and great for giving, especially when the guys hear the name. I made some and gave them to our garage guys and brought some to work (a lumber yard). The guys don't know they are eating something good for them and they sure do strike up a conversation about the name.

Laurea, Barre, VT

These cookies were hard to make; the dough was too thick for a waffle iron. They weren't worth the work.

Jeannette, Troy, MI

These were pretty good. It's nice that there was no leavening or anything to really mess up baking wise. Good for people who may not like to bake otherwise. Chocolate fix fixed!

Laura, OK

What fun to make! Such a change of pace for the after-school bunch. Simple, quick, no clean up, and a classy look on the dessert plate. I think I used a deep waffle iron but it worked super. No complaints and the troops agreed on 5 stars!

Mary-Rita, Rohnert Park, CA

Awesome! I made these for the holiday season, and even though I did not have a reg. waffle iron (I used a Belgain one) they were great! I made some large cookies and then put some NadaMoo (coconut milk based non dairy ice cream--really tasty) on top.

Kim, Austin, TX

Great little cookie! They were fun to make and friends at work loved them.

Vicki, Hartland, VT

Hi Amy, Thanks for telling everyone about NadaMoo! It's great to see friends sharing good ideas to help one another. I'm definitely eager to try these cookies with some coconut NadaMoo! on top. Please do send us your address so we can send you a voucher to enjoy a pint on us! Thanks, NadaMoo! info@nadamoo.com

NadaMoo!, Austin, TX