Gluten Free Chocolate Quakes

I love these cookies!  They are easy to make, and will completely satisfy even the most ferocious chocolate craving.  These cookies are called quakes for the way the powdered surface cracks when cooking, making them look like ground that has been shaken up by an earthquake. This recipe calls for ground pecans, but you can use any nut you want.  If you want them to taste even better, slightly roast your nuts before grinding.

This recipe comes from my good friend Peggy's book "Got Milk: The Cookie Book."  I have a lot of great cookie recipe books, but in my opinion, this is one of the best out there!  Plus I like endorsing my friends, I'm not going to lie:).

The Following gluten-free flour recipe was adapted from the book The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Fast And Healthy by Bette Hagman.

Gluten Free Flour Mix

• 3 cups white rice flour
  
• 1 cup potato flour
  
• ½ cup tapioca flour
  
• 2 tsp xanthan gum
  

GF Chocolate Quakes Ingredients

• 3 tblsp unsalted, melted butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten (or egg substitute)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tblsp unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 cup GF flour (Pamela's or Bobs are good, but you can also use my mix above)
• 1/2 tsp  Baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup finely ground pecans (or nuts of choice)
• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• Confectioners' sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Using an electric mixer (or your speedy hand-whisking skills), beat the melted butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla on low-speed until pale in color and thickened, about a minute or so  
2. Using another bowl, sift together the cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt
3. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until completely combined
4. Fold in the nuts and the chocolate chips
5. Chill the mixture for about an hour, or until it's firm enough to handle
6. Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
7. Put some confectioners' sugar in a bowl (for coating)
8. Using a 1-inch ice cream scoop (or spoon), form chilled dough into 1-inch balls and toss into the bowl of confectioners' sugar. Roll the balls around until completely coated and then place about 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet 
9. Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies have puffed and cracked apart
10. Let cool for 5 or so minutes and then transfer to cooling rack
11. Try not to eat too many of these. Good luck with that!