Chocolate Cinnamon Skeleton Cookies (Printable version)

Spooky chocolate cinnamon cookies shaped like skeletons with sweet icing

# What You'll Need:

→ Cookies

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1 large egg
09 - 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Royal Icing

10 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 1 large egg white
12 - 2-3 tablespoons water

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly combined.
02 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, mixing until fully incorporated.
03 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until dough comes together. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
04 - Divide dough in half and flatten into disks. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until firm.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
06 - Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut out skeleton or gingerbread man shapes with cookie cutter.
07 - Place cutouts on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set. Cool completely on wire rack before decorating.
08 - Beat egg white with powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons water until smooth and pipeable. Add additional water if needed to reach desired consistency.
09 - Transfer icing to piping bag fitted with fine tip. Pipe skeleton designs onto cooled cookies. Allow icing to dry completely before serving.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • The chocolate cinnamon combo tastes like Halloween in a single bite
  • Kids love decorating their own skeleton friends
  • The dough rolls out beautifully without sticking
02 -
  • Chilling the dough is nonnegotiable or your skeletons will spread and lose their bony details
  • The royal icing should be thick enough to hold its shape but thin enough to pipe smoothly
  • These cookies actually taste better on day two when the spices have had time to develop
03 -
  • A pinch of cayenne pepper in the dough adds an unexpected warmth that adults will love
  • White chocolate chips pressed into the dough before baking make for spooky skeleton eyes

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