Chocolate Cinnamon Skeleton Cookies (Printable Version)

Spooky chocolate cinnamon cookies shaped like skeletons with sweet icing decoration, perfect for Halloween celebrations.

# What You Need:

→ Cookie Dough

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 thoroughly blended.
02 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla extract; mix until fully incorporated.
03 - Gradually add dry ingredients to 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 minimum 30 minutes until firm.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
06 - Roll chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut out skeleton or gingerbread man shapes using cookie cutter. Transfer to prepared baking sheets.
07 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set. Cool completely on wire rack before decorating.
08 - Whisk egg white with powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons water until smooth and pipeable consistency. Add additional water if needed to achieve proper thickness.
09 - Transfer icing to piping bag fitted with fine tip. Pipe skeleton bone designs onto cooled cookies. Allow icing to dry completely before storing.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chocolate cinnamon combo feels like a warm hug on a chilly autumn day
  • Kids and adults both get excited over decorating their own edible skeletons
  • The dough is incredibly forgiving and rerolls beautifully without getting tough
02 -
  • Warm dough is impossible to work with so do not skip the chilling step
  • The icing consistency makes or breaks your decorating experience
  • These cookies continue to firm up as they cool so do not overbake
03 -
  • Chill your cutouts on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before baking to help them hold their shape
  • Rotate the baking sheets halfway through for even browning

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