CLASSIC CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

HERSHEY'S Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 cup chopped nuts(optional)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375°F.

2. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 5 dozen cookies.

PAN RECIPE: Spread batter in greased 15-1/2x10-1/2x1-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake at 375°F. 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely; cut into bars. About 4 dozen bars.

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: Simply add 1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa to your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.

SKOR & CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: Use 1 cup finely chopped SKOR bars and 1 cup HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips in place of 2 cups chocolate chips; omit nuts. Drop and bake as directed.

ICE CREAM SANDWICH: Press one small scoop vanilla ice cream between two cookies.

HIGH ALTITUDE DIRECTIONS (classic cookies):
- Increase flour to 2-2/3 cups.
- Decrease baking soda to 3/4 teaspoon.
- Decrease granulated sugar to 2/3 cup.
- Decrease packed light brown sugar to 2/3 cup.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon water with flour.
- Bake at 375°F, 5 to 7 minutes or until top is light golden with golden brown edges.

WHITE CHIP CHOCOLATE COOKIES

HERSHEY'S White Chip Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S Premier White Chips

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until light and fluffy. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into butter mixture. Stir in white chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 9 minutes. (Do not overbake; cookies will be soft. They will puff while baking; flatten upon cooling.) Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 4-1/2 dozen cookies.

Holiday Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1-1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa or HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S Premier White Chips

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 300°F. Beat butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until creamy. Add cocoa; blend well. Gradually add flour, stirring until smooth.

2. Roll or pat dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured surface or between 2 pieces of wax paper; with cookie cutters, cut in holiday shapes. Reroll dough scraps, cutting cookies until dough is used. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or just until firm. Immediately place white chips, flat side down, in decorative design on warm cookies. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Store in airtight container. About 4-1/2 dozen (2-inch diameter) cookies.

NOTE: For more even baking, place similar shapes and sizes of cookies on same cookie sheet.

Chewy Cocoa and Peanut Butter Treats

Ingredients:

• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1-2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips
• 1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 6 cups crisp rice cereal

Directions:
1. Butter 13x9x2-inch pan. Stir together corn syrup and brown sugar in large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil.

2. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter chips, cocoa and butter; stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. (Mixture will be thick.)

3. Add cereal; stir until well coated. Immediately press into prepared pan. Cool completely. Cut into squares. About 30 treats.

Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Cocoa or powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Melt butter in heavy saucepan over low heat. Add cocoa; stir until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk; increase heat to medium. Cook, stirring constantly, about 4 minutes or until mixture has pudding-like consistency and is smooth and glossy.

2. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Cover; refrigerate 3 to 4 hours or until firm. Shape into 1-1/4-inch balls; roll in cocoa or powdered sugar. Refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours. Store, covered, in refrigerator. About 2-1/2 dozen candies.


VARIATIONS:

NUT TRUFFLES: Add 3/4 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans to chocolate mixture when adding vanilla. (To toast pecans: Heat oven to 375°F. Spread 3/4 cup pecan halves or pieces in single layer in ungreased shallow baking pan. Bake 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 7 minutes. Cool before chopping.

RUM NUT TRUFFLES: Decrease vanilla to 1 teaspoon. Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons rum OR 1 teaspoon rum extract and nuts.

ESPRESSO TRUFFLES: Decrease vanilla to 1 teaspoon. Stir in 1-1/4 teaspoons powdered instant espresso or instant coffee when adding vanilla. Roll balls in cocoa or chopped nuts.

NUT-COATED TRUFFLES: Roll balls in chopped nuts.