Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

Sometimes you just need to shake things up a bit.  And apparently at Christmas, that means making chocolate variations of things that aren't typically chocolate.

Bruce wanted to give plates of cookies so some of our friends and neighbors this year, and we needed one more addition to the festive cookie plate.  I had been tinkering with this recipe for a few months, but had never quite succeeded, but thankfully, they finally came together in a way that I loved!

These cookies are soft, even if you roll out the dough thinly, and they pair wonderfully with festive frostings or glazes, like my Eggnog Frosting or Peppermint Frosting.

Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

Ingredients:

3 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 c. cocoa

Directions:

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs ad extract an mix well.  Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and cocoa.  Mix into the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and chill for at least an hour.

Preheat oven to 350.

Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper until 1/2" or 1/4" thick (depending on preference).  Cut out with cookie cutters and place on a silpat lined baking sheet.  Chill for about 10 minutes on the cookie sheet, and then bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies do not look wet in the middle.

Place on racks to cool before frosting.

Enjoy!