Pioneer Boulangerie Chocolate Chip Butter Cookies

I couldn't believe my luck when I found this recipe in "The Los Angeles Times California Cookbook" (1981). The Pioneer Boulangerie was a fabulous bakery/restaurant in the Ocean Park area of Santa Monica; my friends and I lived on these fabulous chocolate chip cookies for years! The Boulangerie disappeared some time in the 1990s, but it's great to know these cookies can still be enjoyed.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 64

Ingredients

• 1  lb butter
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 1⁄2 cups flour
• 12  ounces  semi-sweet chocolate bits
• 2  cups powdered sugar

Directions

1. Cream together butter and two cups of powdered sugar.
2. Add salt, vanilla, and flour and mix until blended. Mixture will be stiff!
3. Stir in chocolate pieces.
4. Pinch off pieces of dough. Roll into 1" balls and flatten with a fork on a baking sheet.
5. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar while still hot.