Recipe(tried): Italian Toto Cookies

TOTO COOKIES - ITALIAN
Chiqui

1 cup shortening, melted and cooled
4 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
pinch salt
few grinds of black pepper
1 cup plus 4 tbsp. sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup dark raisins, chopped
1/4 cup chopped candied fruit mix
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds), chopped
little milk, as necessary
Icing (recipe follows)
Chocolate sprinkles (for decorating)

Melt shortening and set aside to cool.

Sift together all dry ingredients. Set aside.

Mix sugar and cooled shortening. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in almond extract and vanilla. Stir flour mixture with fruits, chocolate chips and nuts. Combine all ingredients and add a little milk if too dry. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets.

Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Do not over bake. While cookies are still warm, dip into icing.

ICING

2 cups confectioner's sugar
Unsweetened cocoa powder (to taste)
Milk

Mix ingredients for the icing together well to make a glaze. Dip cookies while still warm into glaze. Decorate with chocolate Sprinkles.

These are great!!!

Makes 6 dozen (1-inch) cookies