Hazelnut Mocha Balls

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup butter
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 60 hazelnuts, whole (filberts)
• 12 ounces bittersweet chocolate
• 1 1/2 tablespoons shortening
• hazelnuts, chopped (optional)

Recipe

• 1 dissolve coffee in vanilla.
• 2 beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
• 3 add the coffee mixture, flour and cocoa.
• 4 shape 1 teaspoon of dough into balls.
• 5 press a hazelnut into center of each ball.
• 6 bake 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets at 325 degrees fahrenheit for about 15 minutes.
• 7 cool 1 minute, then move to wire rack to cool completely.
• 8 microwave chocolate and shortening until melted, about 1 minute. stir smooth.
• 9 drizzle over cookies, or roll cookies in chocolate and sprinkle with chopped nuts.