It’s almost Christmas!

It’s almost time to relax for a few days, to spend some well-needed time with my family, and to give thanks for my blessings. It’s almost time to take a few days off work, revel in the cool air, and think about nothing but food and gifts and love.

Almost.

Unfortunately, though, it hasn’t felt much like Christmas around here. We went on a walk around the neighborhood yesterday, and very few houses had any decorations up – maybe about one in five. And the decorations were fairly sad – one light-up penguin, a string of lights if we were lucky. Whatever happened to getting into the season? Whatever happened to the plethora of lights and sounds I remember as a child?

Maybe those days are gone. Maybe the Christmas season isn’t really as big a deal as the movies and my childhood memory like to portray.

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s waiting until I get home. Maybe my house – my family – is what feels like the Christmas season. The Santa calendar hanging on the wall; the “8 days til Christmas!” I hear from my sister every morning.

Home.

I baked these cookies this morning to try to feel a little festive. And they definitely helped. I can’t imagine baking these cookies any time of year other than the Holiday Season. And they’re so warm and chocolatey and gooey, they can’t help but lift my spirits.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Print this recipe!

2 Tbsp butter (I used Earth Balance)
4 oz chocolate chips, something you like to eat on its own
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg replacer (I used 1 1/2 tsp Ener-G + 3 Tbsp water)
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup AP flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 cup powdered (confectioner’s) sugar

Melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring between each interval. Do not overcook! Let cool to room temperature.

Make your egg. Combine sugar, egg replacer, and vanilla. Beat until very well combined, 1-2 minutes. Add chocolate mixture and mix until well incorporated.

Combine flour, salt, and baking powder in another bowl. Add to chocolate mixture and mix until just combined.

Refrigerate dough at least 2 hours, but it’s best to leave it overnight.

Preheat the oven to 325F. Shape refrigerated dough into 1″ balls and coat in powdered sugar.

Bake about 9 minutes. The centers will still be soft, but don’t overcook them, as they will dry out and become hard. Let cool for a couple minutes, and then enjoy!