Witches' Brooms

These are fun cookies to make for Halloween. It was one of the many we had for our party, and they were a big hit.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Yields: 20 cookies

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 2  tablespoons water
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 10  pretzel sticks, about 4-inch long
• 2  teaspoons shortening
• 2⁄3 cup chocolate chips
• 1⁄3 cup  butterscotch chips, melted

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350ºF.
2. Mix brown sugar, butter, water, and vanilla in a medium sized bowl until well combined.
3. Stir in flour and salt.
4. Shape dough inot 20 - 1 1/4" balls.
5. Place pretzel rods on ungreased cookie sheet. Press a ball of dough onto the cut end of each pretzel rod.
6. Press dough with fork to resemble "bristles" of a broom, making sure to leave the pretzel rod inside the dough covered.
7. Bake about 12 minute or until set but not brown.
8. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely on wire rack, about 30 minute.
9. Cover cookie sheet with waxed paper. Place brooms on waxed paper.
10. Heat shortening and chocolate chips over low heat in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth; remove from heat.
11. Spoon melted chocolate over brooms at the point where the dough meets the pretzel rod. Cover some of the pretzel rod and some of the cookie, but not the bristles.
12. Drizzle with melted butterscotch chips across the chocolate to resemble string holding the bristles and broom together.
13. Let stand until chocolate is set.