Chocolate Walnut Christmas Cookies

From the King Arthur Flour cookbook. Best made ahead of time and allowed to "age" for a few days.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Yields: 6 dozen

Ingredients

• 1  cup butter (2 sticks)
• 2  cups sugar
• 4  eggs
• 4  ounces  bitter chocolate
• 4  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 3 1⁄2 cups walnuts (1 pound)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light. Beat in the eggs.
3. Melt the chocolate and it cool slightly before adding to the butter and sugar mixture.
4. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add gradually to the wet mixture.
5. Chop nuts finely in a food processor. Stir them into the dough gradually.
6. Roll walnut-sized pieces and put on a greased cookie sheet or parchment paper. Bake for about 13 minutes or until they just start to "crinkle.".