German Christmas Cookies - Chocolate Pretzels

Chocolate Pretzels (Schokoladenpretzel)

1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. sugar
1lg. egg, Beaten
1 t. vanilla extract
1/4 c. milk
1/4 c cocoa
2 c. flour

Frosting
2 T. cocoa
1 1/4 c . powdered sugar
2 T. butter , melted
1/2 t. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make dough: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and milk. Sift cocoa and flour and stir into the butter mixture until thoroughly blended. Chill dough until firm enough to handle (about 30 minutes). Take a ball of dough about 2 tablespoons and roll a rope approx. 10 to 12 inches long with your hands. Form into a pretzel shape leaving a small overlapped tail. Flip Press firmly into place. Put pretzels on greased baking sheets. Bake for about 10 minutes.

Frosting: Mix cocoa and confectioners' sugar. Gradually stir in butter, vanilla and a tiny bit of milk if frosting is too thick. Spread frosting on cooled pretzels. Makes 2 dozen.