These Chocolate Meatball Cookies are my husband, Richard’s, favorite.
His grandmother use to make them for him, and now her children and grandchildren have kept the tradition going. Usually he makes them for Christmas, but he was out gathering wood (sounds crazy, but true), so I gave them a shot. They are very easy to make, especially if you have a standing mixer. The dough isn’t sticky, so that helps.
Don’t forget to thank Grandma D. at the end if you decide to print this recipe out!
Ingredients
- Cookie mix:
- 1 cup Crisco (I used buttered flavor, but plain is fine)
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup milk (I used skim, but any is fine)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup powdered cocoa
- 3/4 to 1 cup chopped nuts-optional (I used walnuts)
- 5 cups flour
- Icing:
- 1/8 cup half & half or whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 lb. confectioners sugar
Instructions
Cookie Mix:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together the Crisco and sugar. Then add each remaining ingredient 1 at a time. Mix well. Roll into meatballs about 1 1/4 inches round, and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool for a few hours.
Icing:
Mix icing ingredients above in bowl and roll cookies with spoon to cover with icing all around. Let sit until frosting is hard and store in air tight container. You can also freeze these. We also added 1 cup of chocolate chips for the fun of it.
https://redheadcandecorate.com/2015/12/chocolate-meatball-cookies/
Tags: chocolate ball cookies, chocolate balls, chocolate meatball cookies, Christmas chocolate meatballs, Christmas meatballs, meatball cookies
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They look so delicious…I love baking family recipes!
Merry Christmas to you and your family Julie!
[…] Grandma D’s Chocolate Meatballs (Cookies) […]
Wait what! This is my Italian grandmas meatball cookie recipe and I’m supposed to be the only one that has it! I make these only at Christmas time and give them out to a few friends. I always get a nice comment on these cookies and how oddly tasty they are ( it’s the pepper). These are a nice addition to all the super sweet cookies at holiday time and are fantastic with a cup of coffee.
Uh oh! Someone is letting all the secrets out! ha ha!
Hi Julie:
The meatball cookies look delicious, gonna try them this year. I told my husband I was making meatball cookies, he said “Don’t make any for me.” Then he tasted one and I have to hide them now.
They are soooo good. Thanks for the recipe.
Also thanks for asking about my husband Joe’s health, he is coming along nicely and I can breath a little easier now.
Cheers, Bette
That is the best news I heard all day, Bette! Enjoy my friend!
Hi, I have my Grandma’s italian meatball cookie recipe that is 60+ years old. This recipe is very close to hers except hers has canned evaporated milk listed. And no pepper but cloves, cinnamon, and allspice.
These are some of the best cookies ever!!
On her recipe card she had them named “Brownies”, so I overlooked it for years, until my brother said that he liked the chocolate cookie Grandma used to make.
Then it hit me! Thank goodness I went back to read that recipe!
Thank goodness!!!
I’m making these today! Can’t wait to try them as they look delicious! Thank you grandma for the recipe!
Hope you enjoyed them, Diane! My husband LOVES them, and my kiddos, too.
I am 74 years old and this is my Grandma D’s meatball cookie recipe! Haha… looks like all the grandmas shared their cookie recipe. I have been making these since I was a little girl and have taught my daughters and granddaughters. Thank you for sharing this.
No way! That is so cool, Patty. Gram D rocks!
they look so good will have to try them
Black pepper? Intriguing! I will have to wait until the weather cools down a little to make these, but definitely look yummy!
I have been a remodeler and Thrift store shopper repurposing almost anything for over 50 years and still enjoy it. And I love your decorating and creative ideas.
Have you ever tried them with butter instead?
Asking for a friend from Wisconsin!
How many cookies does one recipe make?