Cinnamon-Chocolate Chip Butterballs

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/1 2 t. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 cup cold butter
• 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (I chopped regular chips in the food processor)
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 t. ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon and salt. Cut in butter, using a pastry blender or fork, until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. (Note: I dumped all these ingredients in the food processor and let it work for me!) Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla (mixture will be crumbly). (Note: when done in the food processor, the mixture will be doughy, not crumbly).

Using hands, shape dough into 1 inch balls. On greased cookie sheets, place balls 1 inch apart.

Bake 6-8 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool slightly, about 20 minutes.

In small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Roll cookies in sugar mixture, shaking off excess back into bowl. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Enjoy these lovely treats with a hot cup of coffee or tea!

Linked to: Short Stop Cookie Exchange