Recipe: Chile Chocolate Cookies (with chocolate chunks and pine nuts)

CHILE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Ground red chile (2 tablespoons for mild, 3 tablespoons for warm, 4 tablespoons for hot)
3 cups chocolate chunks or chips
1 cup pinons / pine nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, both sugars, beaten eggs and vanilla. Beat until smooth and light.

In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and ground red chile all together. Gradually add dry ingredients to egg mixture. Beat until just combined.

Fold in chocolate chips and pine nuts, if using, by hand until well blended. Scoop batter into 1-inch balls and place on a buttered cookie sheet.*

Bake on the lower rack of the oven until lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Remove from pan while hot.

*Chill the cookie sheets between batches for best results.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies
Source: Albuquerque Tribune