| 1 CUP SUGAR 2/3 CUP BUTTER, SOFTENED 1 EGG 2 TEASPOONS VANILLA 2 1/4 CUP ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR 1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER 1/4 TEASPOON SALT 2 SQUARES (1 OZ. EACH) UNSWEETENED MELTED CHOCOLATE Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter, egg and vanilla. Beat until well mixed, scraping the sides of the bowl often. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Continue beating until well mixed. Divide dough into two halves, placing one of these halves into a separate bowl. Blend the melted chocolate into just one of the halves of dough. You might have to use your hands to blend it well. For each hamster, shape a portion of either-colored dough into a large (1-inch) oval ball. Flatten slightly and place vertically on cookie sheet. Attach a flattened medium ball (3/4-inch) for a head and 4 smaller peices of dough for paws (two at the bottom and two pinched up at the top of the trunk). Add two small balls for eyes, one small ball for a snout, and a tiny ball on top of the snout for a nose. Press a toothpick into the side of the face to give an impression of whiskers. When making the cookies, you may use either the vanilla or chocolate dough for the hamster or you may make a two-tone hamster by alternating the dough flavors in one cookie. If the dough starts to dry out while you're handling it, just add a few drops of vegetable oil until it returns to its original consistency. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until body is set. Cool one minute on cookie sheet; remove immediately. Makes 18 cookies.  After your cookies are done, grab a camera, and take a picture of your best hamster cookie. Upload it to the Cookies album on our Pictures page and share your creativity with others. Don't forget to eat the cookies. Then you can make some more. Have fun! This cookie recipe was adapted by SqueakyChu from one in the December 11,1990, booklet of Land O Lakes Cookie Collection. This page may be printed for your own use but may not be reproduced without the permission of SqueakyChu. | 
