Chocolate Cinnamon Skeleton Cookies (Printable)

Spooky chocolate cinnamon treats shaped like skeletons with sweet icing

# What You'll 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing 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 to firm.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
06 - Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut skeleton or gingerbread man shapes with cookie cutter.
07 - Place cookies on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set. Cool completely on wire rack.
08 - Beat egg white with powdered sugar and water until smooth and pipeable consistency is achieved.
09 - Transfer icing to piping bag fitted with fine tip. Decorate cooled cookies with skeleton designs. Allow icing to dry completely before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The chocolate cinnamon combo is sophisticated but still kid friendly
  • They hold their shape beautifully so your skeleton designs actually look like skeletons
  • The dough is forgiving and rerolls without getting tough
02 -
  • Chilling the dough is what keeps your skeletons from looking like blobs
  • Warm dough spreads too much and you lose all those cute bone details
  • Royal icing dries fast so keep any unused portion covered with a damp cloth
03 -
  • Rotate your baking sheets halfway through for even browning
  • If the dough gets too soft while rolling just pop it back in the fridge for 10 minutes

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