My sister Kelly made these Italian Toto cookies for this year’s swap. She worked very hard to get this recipe just right, making test batches for her husband and family. If you are a fan of this type of cookie, definitely give this recipe a try.

4 c. sifted flour
2 t cloves
2 t nutmeg
1/2 t salt
4 heaping T cocoa
2 t cinnamon
2 T baking powder
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. chopped walnuts
1 t vanilla
1/2 c. shortening, melted and cooled
1 c. raisins
1 c. warm coffee
2 bars Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, chopped
3/4 c. applesauce

Sift together flour, cocoa, spices, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Mix together the shortening and sugar. Stir in vanilla, warm coffee, and applesauce. Gradually add the shortening/coffee mixture to the flour mixture until blended well. Add nuts, raisins, and chocolate, and mix well. Roll dough into 1″ balls. Bake at 350F for 9 minutes only. When cookies are cool, drizzle with mixture of 1 c. powdered sugar, 1 t cocoa, and 2 T water.

Makes 6 dozen.

• cookies