These Chocolate Sugar Cookies are fun and elegant at the same time. They taste good, too. Always a bonus.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

¾ cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
6 Tbs unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 large egg
½ tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder and salt; whisk to blend and set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Blend in the egg and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated and no streaks remain. Form the dough into a disc, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1-2 hours.

3. Preheat the oven to 325˚ F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

4. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough out to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut out desired shapes with cookie cutters and place cut outs on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, just until set. Let cool on the baking sheet about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Decorate as desired. (I used dragées, edible glitter and sanding sugar)

Yield: about 20 medium sized cookies

Recipe from Martha Stewart

You can find the recipe for Royal Icing here.

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Cheers!