Wake-Me-Up Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies
This recipe is way too much fun. Seriously!
Are you curious why?
Well, playing with cut-outs will make anyone smile. Then, when you mix up the frosting and add the food coloring, the real fun begins.
Oh, and even better, the recipe would be exciting to make with your kids, or you could make them with your family.
It’s definitely one happy recipe!
Alyssa from Find My Heart took a day off at the café. She was sneaky and didn’t add Alex to the schedule either. They both needed some time off.
Guess what that means? It’s cookie day in the Winters house.
Little Lexie just found out how she is going to spend her Saturday with her mom and dad. *insert a super happy kid jumping around*
They have so many cut-outs to choose from; I wonder what animals they’ll make for their cookie-making Saturday! (My guess, is there will be a bear for sure.)
Okay, real-talk! This recipe is super fun to make (like we discussed up above) but it takes some time to create. Well, it takes a bit to make if you’re whipping up the recipe solo. (Which is why making them with your kids or family would be amazing.)
I’ll admit, I was hesitant to add the cayenne pepper. I’ve seen recipes add the pepper but I felt unsure. The unknown is always uncomfortable, right?
Here’s the thing though, I highly recommend you add it. The cookies taste so delicious with that pop of flavor as you chew each bite. (Hint: the pop of flavor from the cayenne happens right at the end of the bite.)
Who’s ready to make cut-out cookies?
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Wake-Me-Up Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies
Recipe by Terra Kelly
Prep: 30-45 Minutes
Cook: 9 Minutes
Makes: 40-50 Cookies
(Depending on the size of your cut-outs)
Ingredients
For Cut-Out Cookies
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, sifted (+ extra for rolling out cookie dough)
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 large egg
½ cup coffee (or your favorite milk)
For Royal icing
4 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp meringue powder (3 packets)
5-7 Tbsp half and half (or your favorite milk)
Food coloring (use your favorite)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add Silpat or parchment paper to sheet pan (or you can spray the sheet pan with cooking spray).
In a small bowl, add flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Mix and set aside.
Important Note: The next step, I mixed the butter and sugar with a spatula and used all my strength to whip them together. I worked hard to remove the lumps, too. You could use a stand mixer or hand mixer to make the process easier.
In a medium bowl, add butter and sugar, whip them together and try to remove any butter lumps. Next, add the egg and coffee, mix together.
Note: I always have coffee leftover, but you can use any flavor coffee for the recipe.
Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. (This is where the stand mixer or hand mixer can be helpful.) I mixed the dough by hand with a spatula. It got harder to mix, but you want to make sure the flour fully incorporates into the dough.
If the dough feels too sticky, you could add a little extra flour (but add it slowly). When the dough is ready, you will form it into a ball.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place it into the refrigerator for about an hour to let it get firm. (This process will make it easier for you to work with the dough when you are rolling it out.)
Once the dough is ready, lightly flour a surface and cut off a 1/3 of the dough. Roll it out until it is about ¼ inch thick (Note: you don’t want to roll it out too thin. You’ll want your cookies thicker and more fun.)
Place each cut-out on the prepared sheet pan and bake them for 7-9 minutes, depending on your oven (for my gas oven I baked mine for 9 minutes). The cookies will be light brown on the bottom and around the edges. Let them cool.
For the icing: In a medium bowl, add powdered sugar, meringue powder, and half and half (Note: add the half and half slowly). Next, add your food coloring. You can do any mix and match for the food coloring.
Important Note: The icing needs to be smooth but not runny. If you run a knife through the icing it should take about 12-15 seconds to go back to the original placement.
Once your cookies are frosted let them sit for at least 8-12 hours to let the frosting completely harden.
Enjoy one or two with some coffee or tea!
