Scary Cat Cookies

3 oz semisweet baking chocolate

1 cup butter, softened (do not use margarine)

1/2 cup sugar

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

Yellow candy sprinkles

15 miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits

1 package pull-apart yellow licorice twists, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 package pull-apart pink licorice twists, cut into bits

 

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheets with shortening.

In small saucepan, melt chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in melted chocolate, flour, vanilla and egg.

Shape dough into 30 (1-inch) balls. Pull a little bit of dough from each of 15 balls to make tails; set aside. Cut about 1/4-inch slit in same balls, using scissors. Separate dough at slit for cat's ears. Place balls about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.

Place remaining balls below each cat head on cookie sheets for body. Shape small pieces of dough into 15 (2 1/2-inch-long) ropes. Place end of rope under each body.

Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool 30 minutes.

Use sprinkles to make eyes and baking bits to make noses. Add yellow licorice pieces for whiskers. Add pink licorice for tongues.