Chocolate Cinnamon Skeleton Cookies (Printable)

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

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 or 2 tablespoons meringue powder
12 - 2-3 tablespoons water

# How to Make:

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 at least 30 minutes until firm.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
06 - Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut skeleton or gingerbread man shapes with 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 - Beat egg white or meringue powder with powdered sugar and water until smooth and reaches pipeable consistency.
09 - Transfer icing to piping bag fitted with fine tip. Pipe skeleton designs onto cooled cookies. Allow icing to dry completely before storing.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The chocolate cinnamon combo is unexpected but absolutely addictive
  • They are spooky without being too scary, perfect for all ages
  • The dough is forgiving and easy to work with, even for cookie decorating beginners
02 -
  • The chilling time is not optional, warm dough will spread too much and you will lose those crisp skeleton details
  • Royal icing dries fast so keep any unused icing covered with a damp cloth while you work
  • If your icing is too thick it will be hard to pipe, too thin and it will run, aim for toothpaste consistency
03 -
  • Let your decorated cookies dry overnight before packaging them to prevent smudging
  • The flavor actually develops after a day or two, making them even better for parties

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