Chocolate Cookie Cutouts

By beltranm

This recipe for chocolate cookies used to make Lovebug Cookies was adapted from "Martha Stewart Cookies."

Makes about 1 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 * 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 * 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1/8 * 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 * 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 * 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 * 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 * 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 * 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

1. Sift flour, cocoa powder, salt and cinnamon into a bowl.
2. Place butter and confectioners' sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Turn dough out onto a baking sheet lined with a nonstick baking mat. Form dough into a disk on baking mat and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
3. Lift baking mat from baking sheet. Roll out dough between baking mat and plastic wrap to 1/4 inch thick. Remove plastic wrap. Cut out cookies with a 3 1/2-inch lady-bug-shaped cookie cutter. Transfer baking mat to a baking sheet. Transfer baking sheet to freezer, freeze until very firm, about 15 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove baking sheet from freezer and trim scraps. Reroll scraps between a nonstick baking mat and plastic wrap and repeat process.
5. Bake cookies until crisp, about 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks. Cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.