1. Cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add the egg, water, almond extract and vanilla. Mix for about 1 minute, or until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl combine the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda and salt. Mix it together with a wooden spoon, or whisk to be sure all the dry ingredients are combined. You don’t want any clumps of salt hanging out there solo, waiting to ruin someones bite of cookie.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Beat until all ingredients are mixed well.
5. Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut it into desired shapes.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes. Do not over bake here folks. These cookies are so good when they are soft….not nearly as heavenly when they crunch like a cracker. It’s a little bit difficult to tell when they are done, due to their dark color. I like to take them out of the oven when they are still soft in the middle. Then continue to let them cook on the cookie sheet for a couple of minutes. Then cool completely on a wire rack.
***Note: Some of you may remember me posting this same Glaze Icing back in December. In that post I advised readers to make each icing color twice, one as thin as syrup and the other thicker like toothpaste. After decorating a whole grundle of cookies using this technique I decided it was really time consuming, and I might be able to get a similar result with only one consistency per color.
(Is this making any sense?)
For these cookies I made the icing the consistency of a thick syrup. It did indeed speed things up! That’s something I love. However it does limit the decorative possibilities. Really precise, thin, delicate lines are not really an option using this consistency. But if you don’t mind thicker lines for a quicker time in the kitchen…then one consistency might be right up your alley.***
These measurements are approximate.
1. Put all ingredients, but the food coloring, into a medium sized bowl. Whisk it around to combine. You want to work for the consistency of a thick syrup. Add more powdered sugar to thicken, and more milk to thin.
2. Add the food coloring, whisk it and be sure it is all combined.
3. Pour the icing into a condiment bottle. Be sure to put the cap on! It can dry out rather quickly.
4. Make additional colors as desired.
5. To decorate with the icing, pipe a border around the edge of you cookie. Let this border sit for about 5 minutes. Once it has dried then fill in the cookie with icing. To make fun patterns and designs you can pipe a different color onto the cookie while it is still wet, or pipe another color on, after it has dried. Just depends what kind of look you like. All of the cookies you see here used the wet on wet technique. 6. Once the cookies are dry you may stack them without ruining your beautiful decorating. However, I would advise you to let them dry overnight.
1/2 C cocoa powder (Girardelli or Hershey's, use good quality cocoa)
3 C flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
GLAZE ICING:
1 C powdered sugar
1 T corn syrup
1 t milk
1/4 t almond extract
Americolor Food Coloring (available at Hobby Lobby)
condiment bottles (got mine in the cake decorating section at Wal Mart)
Instructions
CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES:
1. Cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add the egg, water, almond extract and vanilla. Mix for about 1 minute, or until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl combine the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda and salt. Mix it together with a wooden spoon, or whisk to be sure all the dry ingredients are combined. You don't want any clumps of salt hanging out there solo, waiting to ruin someone's bite of cookie.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Beat until all ingredients are mixed well.
5. Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut it into desired shapes.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes. Do not over bake here folks. These cookies are so good when they are soft....not nearly as heavenly when they crunch like a cracker. It's a little bit difficult to tell when they are done, due to their dark color. I like to take them out of the oven when they are still soft in the middle. Then continue to let them cook on the cookie sheet for a couple of minutes. Then cool completely on a wire rack.
GLAZE ICING:
1. Put all ingredients, but the food coloring, into a medium sized bowl. Whisk it around to combine. You want to work for the consistency of a thick syrup. Add more powdered sugar to thicken, and more milk to thin.
2. Add the food coloring, whisk it and be sure it is all combined.
3. Pour the icing into a condiment bottle. Be sure to put the cap on! It can dry out rather quickly.
4. Make additional colors as desired. 5. To decorate with the icing, pipe a border around the edge of you cookie. Let this border sit for about 5 minutes. Once it has dried then fill in the cookie with icing. To make fun patterns and designs you can pipe a different color onto the cookie while it is still wet, or pipe another color on, after it has dried. Just depends what kind of look you like. All of the cookies you see here used the wet on wet technique. 6. Once the cookies are dry you may stack them without ruining your beautiful decorating. However, I would advise you to let them dry overnight.
I just had to write a comment for you!! I needed 72 cookies for my kids class parties for Valetins'e Day and they turned out perfect!! This dough was so easy to work with and rolled out perfectly! Thanks for the recipe and I love your blog!!!
Can you substitute vanilla extract for the almond? If so, will it be the same amt or different? I’ve made these cookies with the almond and they are delicious! But I need to make these for a preschool party and can not use the almond extract. Thanks!
I love the swirls! They are beautiful! Inspirational!
I just had to write a comment for you!! I needed 72 cookies for my kids class parties for Valetins'e Day and they turned out perfect!! This dough was so easy to work with and rolled out perfectly! Thanks for the recipe and I love your blog!!!
hye,,i know this might be a dumb question, but what is 1 T?is it teaspoon or tablespoon? im confused
miss clumsyanna,
The small t is for teaspoon and the large T is for tablespoon.
~Jamie
You make the most beautiful stuff. You truly are an artist!
Your cookies are beautiful, I was planning to make some chocolate heart cookies and decorate them now I know what recipe to use. Love your blog 🙂
Hi Jaime! Let me just say you are my hero!!!! I have been following your blog for about a month now and you are such an inspiration.
I made these cookies for Valentine's Day and everyone just loved them. I told them I wish I could take the credit so I tip my hat to you.
KUDOS.
Alana
Do you have to let these set in fridge for a while prior to rolling & cutting? I know most cut outs require that.
Tara,
This dough is very forgiving, and easy to roll out from the minute you mix it together. No need to refrigerate. Best of luck to you!
~Jamie
Can you substitute vanilla extract for the almond? If so, will it be the same amt or different? I’ve made these cookies with the almond and they are delicious! But I need to make these for a preschool party and can not use the almond extract. Thanks!
Jessica,
Yes, you can use vanilla. It will change the taste a little bit, but they will still be good. Best of luck to you!
~Jamie
Thank you!!