Chocolate Kissed Soft Spiced Honey Cookies

Ingredients:

4 cups flour, sifted
5ml salt
5ml bicarbonate of soda
5ml baking powder
10ml ground cinnamon
10ml ground ginger
2.5ml ground cloves
250g butter, softened
315ml (1 1/4 cups) honey
65ml sugar
1 egg ( or you can substitute 1/3 cup buttermilk)
250ml of chocolate chips for the kisses, more or less depending on the number of cookies.

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 180 C.

Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Into a large mixing bowl sift together the dry ingredients.

In a large saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and be sure not to burn it.

Add the honey and sugar to the butter and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Put the pot into refrigerator and cool until the pan is just warm and not hot. Remove from the refrigerator and beat in the egg (or buttermilk) until well combined.

Stir in the sifted flour mixture, a cup at a time until well mixed. About 20 strokes.

Make sure the dough is cool enough to handle for shaping and roll into 1 1/2 inch balls.

Place the balls 2 inches apart on the parchment paper to allow for spreading and press into place 5 chocolate chips on each cookie.

Put into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cool on cookie racks.

Makes 3 to 4 dozen. Store cookies in an airtight container.