Cocoa Press Christmas Tree Cookies

Don't these look delicious?  These have become a tradition every Holiday Season!!! I think I have made them with C every year since she was born.  Most cookie makers are familiar with the plain butter or cream cheese version of these press cookies,  but we have fallen in love with the Chocolate version!
Of course, chocolate wins over since we are The Chocolate Muffin Tree!  Once you try these you'll never go back to the non-chocolate kind! If you want to make these you'll need these ingredients:

! cup butter (softened)

2/3 cup of sugar

1 egg

1tsp. vanilla 

2 1/4 cup flour

1/3 cup baking cocoa (we used hershey's)

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in large mixer bowl.  Combine flour, cocoa, and salt; blend in.  

Now you'll need a Cookie Press. This one below is my Grandma's from a long time ago!  They make them with a squeeze handle now and some are even electric.  My Mom had an electric one,  but she always liked this one! With this particular Cookie press you have to turn the black handle instead of squeezing.  You can buy a  cookie press here. You fill the back of the press with the cookie dough.

You can see the cookie dough comes out the tree shape here. There are other shapes, but the tree shape works the best for me so I don't fuss with the others.

You press the cookies onto a cool ungreased cookie sheet.  There is a trick with the pace you use so the cookies turn out.  Once you get the hang of it,  you'll know what works!  After you have the cookie sheet full,  then you can decorate with sprinkles!  Bake at 350 for 5 to 7 minutes.

Cool cookies on a wire rack.  The recipe makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies.  I love these cookies because they are the perfect size for small hands.  These are the type of cookie you don't feel guilty about when you eat 4 or 5 since they are small!  I know you'll enjoy these simple chocolate cookies!

What are your Favorite Holiday Cookies?