Devil's Food Cookies With Frosting

I got these at a cookie swap a few years ago and these have been among the favorite cookies in my family ever since! I believe the recipe may have come from Southern Living. I use canned frosting, zapped a few seconds in the microwave to speed up prep time. A favorite chocolate frosting, made with simisweet chocolate bits, can also be used.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 40
• Yields: 40 Dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup shortening
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup  cocoa
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon  butter flavoring
• 20  large marshmallows, cut in half

• frosting

• 1⁄2 cup  semisweet chocolate morsel
• 2  tablespoons butter
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 2  cups  sifted confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Cream shorteing in a large mixing bowl, gradually add sugar, beating until well blended.
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
3. Sift together flour, soda, salt and cocoa in a medium mixing bowl, add to creamed mixture, beating until well blended.
4. Stir in flavorings, blending well. (dough will bwe stiff).
5. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes.
6. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
7. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for eight minutes.
9. Place a marshmallow half on top of each cookie and bake an additional 2 minutes.
10. Remove to wire racks and spread chocolate frosting evenly over each cookie.
11. Leave on wire racks to set.
12. Frosting: melt semisweet chocolate morsels with butter and milk. add 2 cups sifted sugar, beating until well blended.
13. Store in air-tight containers.