October 1: Homemade Cookie Day

October is one of my favorite months. I grew up on the East Coast, and I loved October when the trees would turn, the air would get cooler and the winds brisk. Of course, there was Halloween to look forward to at the end of the month with all its great chocolate candy. Here in California October is still my favorite month. Some trees turn where I live, but not a lot of them, but this is one of our best months for weather. We can easily have three weeks of balmy warm days--and, Halloween is still at the end of the month.

October brings a lot of wonderful chocolate holidays. My friend Louise at Months of Edible Celebrations sent me her notes on many of them, so we have a lot to celebrate this month on DyingforChocolate in the way of chocolate holidays!

Today, October 1, is the Anniversary of the New York Cocoa Exchange. The NY Cocoa Exchange was begun on October 1, 1925, so that buyers and sellers could get together for transactions. Go HERE for a good brief history of chocolate.

October 1 is also Homemade Cookie Day. Make them chocolate!

Here's an easy recipe for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies from Diana Rattray at About.com: Southern Food. I love the crackled appearance!

3 eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted (I use a high cacao content and quality chocolate)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla (I'm fussy about my vanilla. The better the quality, the better the cookie)
2 cups all-purpose flour
sifted confectioners' sugar

In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar, chocolate, oil, baking powder, and vanilla until blended. Beat in as much of the flour with the mixer as possible, then stir in the remaining flour. Cover and chill the cookie dough for 2 hours.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sifted confectioners' sugar, coating well. Place balls of cookie dough about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets and bake in a 375° oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until crackled in appearance. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar if desired.

The Hershey site has another recipe for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies that's delicious. Takes a little more time to prepare, but they're great.

Maybe you have another recipe for cookies to make today. Whatever you choose for Homemade Cookie Day, make them chocolate!