Easy cut out chocolate sugar cookies recipe which hold their shape and taste rich. They are homemade with simple ingredients. Soft but firm. Great for cookie decorating!
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Being a chocoholic, one of my favorite cookies are these ones with cocoa powder. Basically, they have the texture of my classic sugar cookies but a rich chocolate flavor that's to die for! They are perfect for cutting out any shapes you like since they hold their shape well. This also makes them great for Christmas cookies.
These are firm, crispy, and great as packed or shipped homemade gifts. You can also easily decorate them with Royal Icing or Glace Icing or just melted chocolate. Maybe I am picky but the chocolate sugar cookie recipes I have tried in the past were horrible until I found this recipe from The Decorated Cookie. I modified it a bit and they are truly exceptional!
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Key ingredients
- Butter- Use unsalted for best results.
- Granulated sugar- This is one recipe no brown sugar.
- Egg- One at room temperature mixing go smoother.
- Vanilla extract- Brings in the warm flavor and aroma.
- Flour- Makes up the bulk of the cookie dough.
- Cocoa powder- Essential for that chocolatey flavor.
Variations
- Add chocolate chips- You can stir in white, milk, or semi sweet mini chocolate chips of your choice in the dough. Don't use regular sized chocolate chips since they are harder to cut out, when using cookie cutters.
- Dip them- In melted chocolate of your choice and cover in sprinkles.
- Make sandwiches- Use Buttercream Frosting Recipe or Best Cream Cheese Frosting in the middle of two cookies. You can even use vanilla ice cream.
- Use other extracts- Although vanilla is classic, you can also do almond or even peppermint for chocolate peppermint cookies.
- Roll into a log- Chill, then cut slices, place on a cookies sheet and bake. This makes really easy slice-and-bake cookies.
- Decorate them- With different colors and shapes using Royal Icing.
How do you make chocolate sugar cookies? How do you make easy chocolate cookies? How do you make easy chocolate biscuits?
- Cream together- Butter and sugar.
- Mix in- Egg and vanilla extract.
- Whisk together- Flour, baking soda and cocoa powder separately.
- Dump dry mixture- Into the wet mixture and mix until combined.
- Chill- Then roll out dough between two sheets of wax paper.
- Cut out shapes- And bake until done.
Tips and techniques
- Make sure the egg and butter at room temperature- This allows them to blend properly into the dough.
- There is no milk or water in this recipe- Do not add those ingredients or else the dough will become very sticky.
- You must chill the dough- To make it easier to roll out the dough. Chilling the dough also prevents cookies from spreading while baking.
- Rolling the dough between 2 sheets of wax paper- Will prevent it from sticking to your rolling pin or your countertop. You also won't have to use additional flour for dusting. I highly recommend this for ALL cut out cookie recipes.
- If you are ever impatient and don't want to wait for the dough to chill- You can make chocolate drop sugar cookies or chocolate crinkle cookies by scooping out tablespoons of the dough, shaping them into balls, rolling them in granulated sugar and then baking.
Recipe FAQs
When it comes to sugar cookies and especially cookie decorating, it's best to have a cookie that's firm and crisp but still soft and buttery on the inside and not chewy.
Yes, because it makes the dough easier to handle and is not too sticky for rolling and cutting out shapes. It also deepens the chocolate flavor, prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking, and helps keep their shape.
You may not have measured ingredients correctly. Use measuring cups and don't just "eyeball it". Also, be sure to chill the dough.
Storage
- Make ahead- You can make these a few days ahead, if you need. You can also save them for up to a week in the fridge or in the freezer for up to 1 month (then thaw) if kept in an airtight container.
- Room temperature- This can stay out on the counter for about 2 days.
- Refrigerate- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Freeze- Place dough in a tightly sealed freezer bag for up to 1 month. Thaw and bake as usual. You can also freeze already made cookies in an airtight container for up to a month. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy.
More easy cookie recipes
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies (Many Add-ins)
- Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Rolo Cookies (Stuffed)
- Easy Cereal Cookies (With Froot Loops)
- Cake mix Chocolate m&m Cookies
Recipe
Cut Out Chocolate Sugar Cookies
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter Unsalted, Room temperature
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 Egg Large, Room temperature
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- ½ cup Cocoa powder
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and cocoa powder.
- Dump this dry mixture into the wet mixture and mix until just combined. I noticed that using my hands for mixing everything together was much easier.
- Refrigerate this dough for 2 hours. I refrigerated overnight. It was rock solid when I took it out in the morning so I allowed it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling it out.
- Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to make shapes.
- Place cookies gently on a cookie tray, lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 375 degrees F (8 to 10 minutes for small cookies or 10 to 12 minutes for larger cookies).
- Let them cool completely to room temperature and then remove from the tray and you are done! Enjoy!
Notes
- You must use room temperature ingredients.
- Use high quality cocoa powder for best flavor.
- The dough must be refrigerated to make it easier to handle. It also prevents the cookies from spreading during baking.
- Use unsalted butter to keep the cookies from becoming too salty.
- Make sure your baking tray is lined with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking to the pan.
- Read additional tips and variations above.
- Store in a sealed container in the fridge or room temperature for up to 1 week.
- Cookie dough can also be frozen in a tightly sealed freezer bag for up to 1 month.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Raymund Macaalay
That stick is a good idea, it looks like a lollipop a great idea to trick out kids
Magic
Cookie pops what a great idea...these cookies look perfect and I bet they are delicious and un-sock like
yummychunklet
What a great recipe! I'm going to make these for my nieces!
Wendy Irene
Cookie pops- that is so perfect for kids. I might have to make these with my kids and enjoy the clean hands having a stick will help with. Have a beautiful day!
kankana
Cookie pops are such a fantastic idea for a party .. specially kid party .. brilliant!
Suzy
These are great Abeer!! Perfect for my boys!
Eftychia
My kids will love these cookies. Thanks for sharing!
Jenny
Cookie POPS! Absooolutely love them.
thoma
there's a plethora of choco cookie recipes and i'm always looking out for the best...though your mentioning it tastes like socks..haha i couldn stop laughing!!...doesn motivate me much...the truth behind it does and i'll definitely make these...the first two pics are fab... flickr??
Ali
wow... these look amazing; I cannot wait to indulge in their chocolaty goodness when I make them!
Jackey
These are just the best thing ever!! I can't stop eating them seriously! Thanx millions.
Kat
Do you start out with cold or room temperature butter?
Abeer Rizvi
I have done it both ways. However, it's always good to use room temperature butter because it allows all the ingredients to blend properly without any lumps. You will be chilling this dough. So, if the dough seems soft initially... don't worry about it!
Alexis Barnes
Two questions. Do you use any flour when cutting out the shapes. Secondly, I notice you mentioned "sugar" when add the dry ingredients. Typo?
Abeer Rizvi
Thanks for pointing out the typo. It's fixed now!
And I use all purpose flour. I hope you enjoy these cookies!
Shawna
The cookies were great! Good idea with the chocolate. The only problem I had (Could have been human error) but my dough came out very thick which made it hard to roll out. I simply added a few splashes of milk and it made it perfect.
Abeer Rizvi
So happy to hear you liked these cookies.
Sometimes, that happens because of measuring cups. It may sound weird but not all measuring cups are identical. They could be a little off (only slightly). My friends keep telling me to switch over to using a scale because measuring by weight is the most accurate way of baking but I have gotten so used to measuring cups that I can't make the swicth...lol.
Sweetpea
Wow, I'm thinking taking on a camping trip and using for s'mores!! Cant wait might have to build a fire in the fire pit out back tonight!!
Abeer Rizvi
hahaha. I have used these in s'mores and they are delicious! That fire pit sounds like a great idea
Simran
Nice i will try it but instead of egg can we use another ingredient becoz i am vegetarian please.......
Abeer Rizvi
Hi Simran, I am sorry but I haven't tried any egg substitutions. But if you try something, let me know how it goes