Active Ashley's Kitchen

My family loves dark chocolate and these cookies do not disappoint! There is melted dark chocolate in the dough, dark chocolate chips mixed in, then the cookies are topped with 1-2 more chocolate chunks in case there wasn’t enough chocolate already. 

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 scoops chocolate protein powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon espresso powder

2 sticks unsalted butter softened

2 cups light brown sugar

1 ½ cup sugar, plus ½ cup for topping

½ cup cocoa powder

4 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon water

8 ounces melted dark chocolate chips cooled slightly

12 ounces dark chocolate chips/chunks plus ½ cup for topping

Directions:

1. In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, protein powder, and espresso.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter until smooth with the paddle attachment. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Add the sugars and cocoa powder.  Mix at medium speed until light and fluffy for about 1 minute.
4. Add eggs, vanilla, and water.  Beat at medium speed for 30 seconds until combined.
5. Add slightly cooled melted chocolate and mix again.  Scrape down the sides to evenly mix everything.
6. Add the flour mixture adding 1 cup at a time on low and increasing the speed to medium once the flour is incorporated.
7. Add the chocolate chips and mix for a few seconds to combine.
8. Refrigerate the dough for approximately an hour until dough is fudge like. 
9. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
10. Use a tablespoon size cookie scooper to make balls. 
11. Roll the balls in the sugar and place 1-2 chocolate chunks on the top of the ball.
12. Spread the cookies out on the baking sheet and bake for 9 minutes.
13. Let cool on the sheet for 5 minutes.  Then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
14. Note: You can freeze the dough and thaw when ready to bake if you want to prepare a smaller batch or prepare in advance.