A cookie that is quite simply - heavenly!

Gale Gand's Deep Chocolate Shortbread

1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons Dutch cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Place the butter, SPLENDA® Granulated Sweetener, sugar, vanilla and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Mix, using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer until the mixture is light and creamy (approximately 1 to 1 1/2 minutes). Add cocoa powder and all the flour. Mix until just blended.
3. Remove dough from bowl and form into a ball. Place the ball of dough on the parchment lined pan. Roll the dough into a rectangle approx. 6 1/2-inches wide by 11 inches long and 1/4-inch thick. Pierce the surface of the dough with a fork all over. This allows the air to escape during baking preventing air pockets from forming.
4. Bake in preheated 375°F (190°C) oven 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the pan after 10 minutes of baking. Remove shortbread from oven after 20 to 25 minutes and immediately cut into 24 fingers or rectangles while the shortbread is still warm. If allowed to cool, shortbread will not slice well.

Makes 24 cookies.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cookie): Calories 120 | Calories from Fat 70 | Fat 8g (sat 5.0g) | Cholesterol 20mg | Sodium 25mg | Carbohydrates 10g | Fiber 1g | Sugars 2g | Protein 1g

Recipe and photograph courtesy of Splenda, Inc. Splenda® is a no-calorie sweetener made from sugar that is suitable for diabetics. For more information regarding this product, please call 1-800-777-5363 or visit their website at www.splenda.com.