Description
Delight in these rich and tender Chocolate Cut Out Cookies, perfect for holiday celebrations or any time you crave a chocolatey treat. This recipe combines cocoa powder with a buttery, sweet dough that is chilled and rolled out to create fun shapes, then baked until just set for a slightly soft center. Easy to make and wonderfully versatile, these cookies are ideal for decorating or enjoying plain.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 180 g (1 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 25 g (1/4 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder (optional)
Wet Ingredients
- 100 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 80 g (2/3 cup) powdered sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line 1–2 perforated baking sheets with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Sift Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder (if used) to ensure even distribution and a smooth dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar in a large bowl until the mixture turns smooth and creamy, incorporating air for a tender texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the room temperature egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is fully blended and uniform.
- Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix on low speed just until a sticky dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Shape and Chill Dough: Use a pastry scraper to gather the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and shape into a flat disk. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to firm up.
- Roll and Freeze: Roll the chilled dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thickness, then place it in the freezer for 10–15 minutes to make cutting shapes easier.
- Cut Shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut desired shapes from the firmed dough, then arrange the cutouts on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes until edges are firm and centers are still slightly soft, indicating perfect doneness.
- Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preventing breaking.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and helps achieve crisp edges.
- Baking powder is optional but can make the cookies slightly lighter and more tender.
- For best results, use room temperature egg for smooth incorporation.
- These cookies can be decorated with icing or sprinkles after cooling if desired.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chocolate cookies, cut out cookies, cocoa cookies, holiday cookies, baked chocolate treats, sugar cookies chocolate
