Name: Frosted Chocolate Drops
Yield: 3 dozen cookies
Ingredients: !Chocolate Drops; 1 3/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour (sift flour, then measure); 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup butter or shortening, at room temperature; 3/4 cup sugar; 1 egg, well-beaten, at room temperature; 2 squares (2 ounces) unsweetened chocolate; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 cup whole milk; 1/2 cup almonds, coarsely chopped; !Soft Chocolate Butter Frosting; 1 cup powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons cocoa; 1 to 2 teaspoons milk; 1/4 cup butter, room-temperature

Instructions

!Chocolate Drops
Preheat oven 425 degrees F.
In a double boiler (or use a small pan set over another pan with water simmering on low), melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally, until just melted. Remove from heat and cool while preparing the other ingredients.
In a large bowl, sift flour baking soda and salt together, sifting ingredients for a total of three times. (The pre-sifted flour will have undergone 4 siftings by this point).
In a small bowl, combine vanilla and milk and reserve for later use.
In a standing mixer or with a hand mixer, mix butter on high speed until light and lemon-colored. On medium-low speed, add sugar gradually, in three waves, allowing to mix after each addition.
Next, slowly add the beaten egg, and the melted-and-cooled chocolate.
Alternately add dry ingredients and vanilla-milk mixture in three rounds, mixing until smooth after each addition. Stir in the almonds.
Drop by spoonfuls on ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
When cool, frost with Soft Chocolate Frosting (recipe follows)
!Soft Chocolate Frosting
Mix powdered sugar, cocoa and 1 teaspoon milk. If the mix appears a little dry, add a splash more of milk, probably no more than 2 teaspoons milk.
Beat in butter until mixed through.
Spread onto Chocolate Drops immediately. This should set quickly.