Chocolate and Vanilla Waffle Cookies-Improv Challenge

I am back with my post for the other challenge I participate in.  The ingredients Kristen, from Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker, chose for this month's Improv Challenge were chocolate and vanilla.

There is chocolate and vanilla in many recipes, but I decided that I would play the combination up a bit by adapting a Chocolate Waffle Cookie recipe to be a two-tone cookie with one side being vanilla flavored.  Although the baking process is a bit time-consuming, waffle cookies are a great treat to make in the summer time when it is hot, and you don't want to use the oven.  Waffle cookies make a more cookie-like cookie than many no-bake recipes.  These cookies are soft and cake-like.  My waffle iron makes 4 cookies at a time.  If you have a family-size waffle iron, you can probably make 8 at a time.

Chocolate and Vanilla Waffle Cookies
1 c. sugar
2/3 c. butter, softened
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 t. vanilla, divided
1 1/2 c. flour plus 3 T.
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/2 c. milk
3 T cocoa powder
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)
1 c. sifted powdered sugar
3 T. water or milk

In large mixing bowl, combine sugar and butter and beat until creamy.  Add egg and vanilla and beat well.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to sugar/egg mixture mix well.  Add 1/2 of the milk and beat well.  Continue adding flour mixture and milk in this manner ending with the flour mixture.  Divide dough, placing half of it in a small mixing bowl.  Add cocoa powder to one of the bowls of dough mixing until well blended.  Add 1 t.vanilla and the 3 T. flour to the other half of the dough and mix well.  Add chopped nuts, if using, dividing them evenly between dough halves.  Heat waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  Drop a teaspoon of chocolate dough into two opposite corners of each waffle grid.  Drop a teaspoon of white dough next to the chocolate dough.  Close lid and cook until the waffle iron indicates cookies are done.  Gently remove the cookies with a fork and transfer to a wire rack to cool.  Combine powdered sugar and water to make a smooth glaze.  Brush glaze over the cookies.  Let set.  Transfer to a zip-top bag to store.  Makes about 3 dozen.

September's Improv ingredients are pasta and cheese.  If you would like to join in the fun, you can find all the details on Kristen's Improv Page.

To see what other bloggers have made with chocolate and vanilla, check out the links below.

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