Italian Chocolate Chip Roll

A tender dough with fudgy filling!

Photo from Pinterest

This cookie isn't really a traditional Italian cookie, but more of an Italian-American one. These festive, iced pastries were developed by Italian immigrants who adapted flavors and techniques from their homeland to the ingredients available in the United States. Personally, I'm really happy they did this!

Mom made these very year at Christmas time and we all loved them! It might take a 

little practice, but I promise, they are totally worth it!

Ingredients:

Dough:

1/2 cup sugar

4 eggs

1/4 cup oil

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

4 tsp. baking powder

3 cups flour (or enough to make soft dough)

Add the above ingredients into a mixer bowl until smooth; set aside.

Preheat oven to 350'F.  Prepare baking sheets with cooking spray.

Divide the dough into 4 equal parts. Sprinkle flat surface with confectioners' sugar. Roll out each section to a 1/4" thick rectangle.

Filling:

12 oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated)

1 cup chopped walnuts, if desired (I never use the nuts...just a preference)

Instructions:

Melt chocolate chip morsels and sweetened condensed milk over low heat in a double boiler, stir until smooth and blended. Add chopped walnuts and stir together. (I turn off heat, but keep it over the double boiler for easier spreading)

Spread filling into the center of each rolled out 1/4 part of dough, spread towards the sides up to an inch from the edge. Roll up like a jelly roll from the longer side.

Press to seal all the edges, then turn to seal the bottom. (Important to make sure the seal is secure or the filling will burst through.)

Use two spatulas to lift the rolls and place onto the prepared baking sheets.

Bake at 400'F. for 10-12 minutes or slightly golden.

Cool before frosting with vanilla glaze or powdered sugar.

Be encouraged!

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as, in fact, you are doing.  -1 Thessalonians 5:11