Shape this chocolate cookie dough into a variety of shapes.
Combine sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add egg and almond extract; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; beat, gradually adding flour and cocoa and scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
Divide dough into thirds. Wrap each third in plastic food wrap; refrigerate until firm (2 hours or overnight).
Heat oven to 375°F. Shape dough with floured hands, one-third at a time (keep remaining dough refrigerated), into 1-inch balls. Form balls into desired shapes (balls, squares, logs, etc.) or follow variations as directed below. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until set. (Surface may crack slightly.) Cool completely. Decorate as desired.
VARIATIONS:
Nut Rolls: Shape dough into 2 to 3-inch logs. Bake as directed. Cool completely. Dip both ends of each cookie into melted chocolate chips, then in finely chopped nuts.
Surprise–Filled: Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Make depression in center of each cookie with back of teaspoon. Bake as directed. Cool completely. Fill with maraschino cherry half. Spoon melted vanilla milk chips over top of cookie.
Cut-Out Cookies: Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-third at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/8 to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 3-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake as directed. Decorated as desired.
Recipe Tip
If you want to use a cookie press to form cookies, it is not necessary to chill dough before forming cookies.
Recipe Tip
Too much flour can make your cookies dry and crumbly. To measure flour, lightly spoon flour into measuring cup and level off with a straight edge.
