Print
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 and 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 3/4 cup (62g) unsweetened natural or dutch process cocoa powder, plus more as needed for rolling and work surface
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (12 tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- royal icing, glaze icing, or cookie buttercream (buttercream is pictured)
- assorted sprinkles (these sprinkles are pictured)
Instructions
- Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together on high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla, beating until well combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl as needed to ensure everything is mixed well.
- Add the dry ingredients to the mixture and blend on low speed until combined. If needed, add an extra tablespoon of flour to make the dough less sticky.
- Split the dough into two halves. Dust parchment paper or silicone baking mats with cocoa powder or flour. Roll out each half of the dough to approximately 1/4-inch thickness, using more powder if the dough is too sticky.
- Place a piece of parchment on top of one rolled dough and top it with the second piece. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or up to 2 days.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Remove the top dough piece from the fridge and cut shapes with cookie cutters. Re-roll remaining dough as necessary, using more cocoa powder or flour for dusting.
- Arrange cookies on baking sheets, leaving 3 inches between them. Bake for 11-12 minutes until edges are set. Rotate the trays halfway during baking if needed. Cool cookies on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Prepare your decorating icing and decorate the cookies as desired. Allow icing to set before serving.
Notes
For a firmer dough, refrigerate longer if it’s too warm to handle easily.
These cookies are perfect for gifting; they stay soft for about 5 days at room temperature.
You can use various sprinkles or icings to personalize your cookies.
- Prep Time: 120 minutes
- Cook Time: 210 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg