Halloween Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Halloween Cookies are classic soft cut out chocolate sugar cookies made with cocoa powder and decorated with easy sugar icing!

These cute Halloween Cookies are perfect to celebrate Halloween!

This recipe is based on my favorite Donut Sugar Cookies. To make them chocolate, I just reduced the amount of all-purpose flour and substituted it with cocoa powder.

How to make Halloween Chocolate Sugar Cookies.

To make it easier, use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.

Start with beating butter with sugar on high speed for about 5 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and pale in color.

Then add an egg (room temperature) and vanilla extract and beat again until well combined.

Don’t forget to scrap the sides and the bottom of the mixing bowl with a spatula to make sure everything is well mixed.

For the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt), mix them together in a separate bowl, then add to the wet ingredients in two steps. Mix in between on low speed until all combined but try not to overmix.

You can slightly knead the dough with hands, make a ball/disk shape, and wrap it in the plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.

It is very important to chill the dough, so it will be elastic and less sticky while rolling and cutting out the cookies. Plus, the cookies will keep the shape while baking.

When you roll out the dough it might be a bit sticky. You can use a little bit of flour to prevent it from sticking to the roller or a counter. However, I have a different trick that always helps me. Put the dough between two sheets of parchment paper, then roll over the parchment paper. The paper will keep the dough smooth and will not stick.

After you cut out the cookies and put them on the baking sheet, put the sheet with the cookies back in the fridge for 10 minutes to chill. The reason I do it, is because while you are working the dough it warms up. Chilled dough will help your cookies to keep their shape.

It takes about 9-10 minutes to bake these cookies at 350°F. When you take them out of the oven, let them sit on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

How to make icing for Sugar Cookies.

To make this simple sugar icing, mix powdered sugar and vanilla extract together, then gradually add some milk until you get the right consistency.

Divide the icing in three different bowls and add food coloring.

Transfer the colored icing to the piping bags to decorate the cookies.

5 from 13 votes

Print

Halloween Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

Halloween Chocolate Sugar Cookies are classic soft cut out sugar cookies made with cocoa powder and decorated with easy sugar icing!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Halloween cookies

Servings: 16 cookies

Author: Veronika's Kitchen

Ingredients

Ingredients for Chocolate Sugar Cookies:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Ingredients for Icing:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2-3 teaspoons milk
• food coloring

Instructions

How to make Chocolate Sugar Cookies.

1. In a stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, beat butter with sugar on high speed for about 5 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and pale in color.

2. Add an egg (room temperature) and vanilla extract and beat again until well combined.

3. Scrap the sides and the bottom of the mixing bowl with a spatula to make sure everything is well mixed.

4. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl, then add to the wet ingredients in two steps. Mix in between on low speed until all combined but try not to overmix.

5. Slightly knead the dough with hands, making a ball/disk shape, and wrap it in the plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight.

6. When ready to bake, take the dough out from refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for 10 minutes.

7. To roll out the dough, put the dough between two sheets of parchment paper, then roll over the parchment paper. The paper will keep the dough smooth and will not stick.

8. After you cut out the cookies and put them on the baking sheet, put the sheet with the cookies back in the fridge for 10 minutes to chill. Chilled dough will help your cookies to keep their shape.

9. Bake cookies for about 9-10 minutes at 350°F. When you take them out of the oven, let them sit on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

How to make icing for Sugar Cookies.

1. Mix powdered sugar and vanilla extract together, then gradually add some milk until you get the right consistency.

2. Divide the icing in three different bowls and add food coloring.

3. Transfer the colored icing to the piping bags to decorate the cookies.