{"id":23614,"date":"2026-04-18T08:30:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T15:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/?p=23614"},"modified":"2026-04-18T10:53:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:53:51","slug":"chcolate-sugar-cookie-recipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/chcolate-sugar-cookie-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Chcolate Sugar Cookie Recipe"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/chocolate-sugar-cookies\/\">From Sally&#8217;s Baking Addiction<\/a><\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Ingredients &amp; Why They Matter<\/h2>\n<p>With only 8 ingredients in this recipe, each and every one has an important job to do:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>All-Purpose Flour:<\/strong> Provides structure so the cookies hold their cut-out shapes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unsweetened Cocoa Powder:<\/strong> The star of the show! You can use natural or Dutch-process for slightly different flavor profiles. See the section below on this.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Baking Powder:<\/strong> Gives a slight lift without puffing too much (important for flat tops!).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Salt:<\/strong> For flavor balance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Butter:<\/strong> Unparalleled for buttery sugar cookies. Make sure it\u2019s properly softened to <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/room-temperature-butter\/\">room temperature<\/a>. And if you\u2019re a baking beginner, check out my tutorial on <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/how-to-cream-butter-and-sugar\/\">how to cream butter and sugar<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Granulated Sugar:<\/strong> Sweetens and helps create those slightly crisp edges.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Egg:<\/strong> Binds everything together and adds richness.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vanilla Extract:<\/strong> Enhances the chocolate flavor without overpowering it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading heading-star\">Success Tips for the Best Chocolate Sugar Cookies<\/h2>\n<p>There are a few tricks to making sure your chocolate sugar cookies hold their cookie-cutter shapes in the oven (rather than spreading into unrecognizable blobs):<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Roll out the dough BEFORE chilling. <\/b>It\u2019s much more effective to chill the cookie dough *after* rolling it out, just as you do when making regular <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/best-sugar-cookies\/\">sugar cookies<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/brown-sugar-cut-out-cookies\/\">brown sugar cut-out cookies<\/a>. Trying to roll out hard, chilled sugar cookie dough is frustrating and difficult. So, once you\u2019ve mixed together your dough,\u00a0divide it into 2 halves, and roll out each portion before chilling the rolled-out dough in the refrigerator.<\/li>\n<li><b>Another trick: <\/b>Roll out the cookie dough directly on a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/38jiM2A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">silicone baking mat<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3yrkM3l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">parchment paper<\/a> so you can easily transfer it to the refrigerator. If you don\u2019t have enough room for 2 baking sheets in your refrigerator, stack the pieces of rolled-out dough on top of each other, with parchment in between.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Roll evenly: <\/strong>Aim for about 1\/4-inch thickness so they bake evenly and stay soft.<\/li>\n<li><b>My final trick:\u00a0<\/b>Instead of dusting your hands and work surface with flour like you usually do when handling\/working with dough, use cocoa powder\u2014an ingredient you need for the dough anyway! Flour is tasteless, so might as well use cocoa powder for extra chocolate flavor, right?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3 Cookie Icing Options<\/h2>\n<p>Once cooled, these cookies are your canvas! Because the cookies bake with a flat, smooth top, decorating is much easier and more professional-looking.<\/p>\n<p>I have 3 cookie icing recipes, so you have several options to choose from, based on your skill level and decorating needs. Here are the basic differences:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Buttercream Frosting:<\/strong> I decorated the pictured chocolate sugar cookie hearts with <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/cookie-decorating-buttercream\/\">cookie decorating buttercream<\/a>, piped on with a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/40yDjag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Wilton 1A piping tip<\/a>. Then I spread it around to flatten it out and <a id=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4dQLWWf\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4dQLWWf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\" type=\"link\">added these sprinkles<\/a>. This is a classic vanilla buttercream frosting that soft-sets on cookies after a few hours. In a nutshell:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Only 5 ingredients<\/li>\n<li>Creamy + sweet<\/li>\n<li>Great for beginners<\/li>\n<li>Can decorate with piping tips or simply spread on cookies<\/li>\n<li>Can be tinted any color with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3QgqDRu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">gel food coloring<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>2. <\/strong><b>Royal Icing:<\/b> I have a separate post for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/royal-icing\/\" rel=\"\">royal icing<\/a> where you can find many FAQs, make-ahead instructions, and a video tutorial. This icing is ideal for intermediate or advanced cookie decorators. In a nutshell:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sturdy icing for piping sharp detail and fine designs<\/li>\n<li>Sets on the cookie in just 1\u20132 hours<\/li>\n<li>Dries firm but still soft, not a hard cement-like texture<\/li>\n<li>Make with an electric mixer<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2yNy0WE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Meringue powder<\/a> eliminates the need for raw egg whites<\/li>\n<li>Can be flavored with your favorite flavor extract<\/li>\n<li>Can be tinted any color with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3QgqDRu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">gel food coloring<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Decorate with piping bags (<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3e6ooA9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">reusable<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/30JGnVO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">disposable<\/a>) and tips<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>3. E<\/strong><b>asy Glaze Icing: <\/b>Another option is this easy <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/easy-glaze-icing\/\" rel=\"\">cookie icing<\/a>, which I typically use on these <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/christmas-sugar-cookies\/\" rel=\"\">Christmas sugar cookies<\/a>. This glaze-style icing is great for beginners and much easier to make than royal icing because you don\u2019t need an electric mixer or the perfect icing consistency for success. It isn\u2019t as sturdy as royal icing, though, so you won\u2019t be able to pipe concise details. It also takes a good 24 hours to dry. In a nutshell:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy to make with just a fork\/whisk and bowl<\/li>\n<li>Just 5 basic ingredients<\/li>\n<li>Can decorate with piping tips or a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2NZx385\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">squeeze bottle<\/a> (good for beginners and young bakers)<\/li>\n<li>Can color with gel food coloring<\/li>\n<li>Sets on the cookie in 24 hours<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more decorating inspiration, here is my full tutorial (video included) on <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/decorated-sugar-cookies\/\">how to decorate sugar cookies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And if you\u2019re not into piping tips,<\/strong> you can just dunk the tops of the chocolate sugar cookies into icing like when making <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/animal-cracker-cookies\/\" rel=\"\">mini animal cracker cookies<\/a>.\u00a0A fun option if you\u2019re baking with kids!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1776510966615\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do chocolate sugar cookies spread?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Not much! This recipe is designed to hold its shape, especially when the dough is properly chilled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1776510978993\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can I make this cookie dough ahead of time?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes! Chill it for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1776511005415\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can I freeze chocolate sugar cookie dough?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Absolutely. Freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw in the refrigerator before rolling. See <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/baking-basics-how-to-freeze-cookie-dough\/\">How to Freeze Cookie Dough<\/a> for more info.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<header class=\"tasty-recipes-entry-header\">\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-header-content clearfix\">\n<h2 class=\"tasty-recipes-title\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"h2-color.color h2-transform.text-transform\">Cut-Out Chocolate Sugar Cookies<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-rating\">\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-rating-outer\">\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-rating-inner\"><span class=\"tasty-recipes-rating-stars\"><span class=\"tasty-recipes-ratings-buttons tasty-recipes-no-ratings-buttons\" data-tr-default-rating=\"4.8\"> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-rating\" data-tr-checked=\"1\"> <i class=\"checked\" data-rating=\"5\"> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-screen-reader\"> 5 Stars <\/span> <\/i> <\/span> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-rating\"> <i class=\"checked\" data-rating=\"4\"> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-screen-reader\"> 4 Stars <\/span> <\/i> <\/span> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-rating\"> <i class=\"checked\" data-rating=\"3\"> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-screen-reader\"> 3 Stars <\/span> <\/i> <\/span> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-rating\"> <i class=\"checked\" data-rating=\"2\"> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-screen-reader\"> 2 Stars <\/span> <\/i> <\/span> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-rating\"> <i class=\"checked\" data-rating=\"1\"> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-screen-reader\"> 1 Star <\/span> <\/i> <\/span><\/span><\/span> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-rating-label\"><span class=\"rating-label\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-label-color.color\"><span class=\"average\">4.8<\/span> from <span class=\"count\">46<\/span> reviews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-details\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"author\"><span class=\"tasty-recipes-label\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-label-color.color\"> Author:<\/span> <a class=\"tasty-recipes-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/about-sally-mckenney\/\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-value-color.color\">Sally McKenney<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"prep-time\"><span class=\"tasty-recipes-label\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-label-color.color\"> Prep Time:<\/span> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-prep-time\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-value-color.color\">2 hours<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cook-time\"><span class=\"tasty-recipes-label\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-label-color.color\"> Cook Time:<\/span> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-cook-time\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-value-color.color\">12 minutes<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"total-time\"><span class=\"tasty-recipes-label\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-label-color.color\"> Total Time:<\/span> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-total-time\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-value-color.color\">3 hours, 30 minutes (plus icing setting time)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"yield\"><span class=\"tasty-recipes-label\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-label-color.color\"> Yield:<\/span> <span class=\"tasty-recipes-yield\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"detail-value-color.color\">18 3-inch cookies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-entry-content\">\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-description\">\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-description-body\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"body-color.color\">\n<p><em>These are soft, thick chocolate sugar cookies with lightly crisp edges and rich cocoa flavor. This easy cut-out cookie dough rolls out smoothly, holds its shape, and bakes with a flat surface perfect for decorating with icing or buttercream. Chilling is the most important step, so don\u2019t skip it. The number of cookies this recipe yields depends on the size of the cookie cutter you use. If you\u2019d like to make dozens of cookies for a large crowd, double the recipe.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-ingredients\">\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-ingredients-header\">\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-ingredients-clipboard-container\">\n<h3 data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"h3-color.color h3-transform.text-transform\">Ingredients<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-units-scale-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-ingredients-body\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"body-color.color\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span data-amount=\"1\">1<\/span> and 1\/2 cups (<span data-amount=\"188\" data-unit=\"g\">188g<\/span>) <strong>all-purpose flour<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/how-to-measure-baking-ingredients\/\" rel=\"\">spooned &amp; leveled<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Recipe_1_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-recipe adthrive-recipe-1 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"CM2plbzc95MDFXAeRAgdsgsc0Q\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_1\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_1\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_1\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"4\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-amount=\"0.75\" data-unit=\"cup\">3\/4 cup<\/span> (<span data-amount=\"62\" data-unit=\"g\">62g<\/span>) unsweetened natural or <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4ljqxVH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dutch process cocoa powder<\/a>, plus more as needed for rolling and work surface<\/li>\n<li><span data-amount=\"1\" data-unit=\"teaspoon\">1 teaspoon<\/span> <strong>baking powder<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span data-amount=\"0.125\" data-unit=\"teaspoon\">1\/8 teaspoon<\/span> <strong>salt<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span data-amount=\"0.75\" data-unit=\"cup\">3\/4 cup<\/span> (<span data-amount=\"12\" data-unit=\"tbsp\">12 Tbsp<\/span>; <span data-amount=\"170\" data-unit=\"g\">170g<\/span>) <strong>unsalted butter<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/room-temperature-butter\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/room-temperature-butter\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1556632488441000&amp;usg=AFQjCNG8YwcePwIDYMl8wyvG6maPgAmFqg\">softened to room temperature<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span data-amount=\"1\" data-unit=\"cup\">1 cup<\/span> (<span data-amount=\"200\" data-unit=\"g\">200g<\/span>) <strong>granulated sugar<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span data-amount=\"1\">1<\/span> large <strong>egg<\/strong>, at room temperature<\/li>\n<li><span data-amount=\"1\" data-unit=\"teaspoon\">1 teaspoon<\/span> <strong>pure vanilla extract<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>For Decorating<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/royal-icing\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Royal Icing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/easy-glaze-icing\/\" rel=\"\">Glaze Icing<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/cookie-decorating-buttercream\/\">Cookie Buttercream<\/a> (buttercream is pictured)<\/li>\n<li class=\"ingredient\">Assorted <strong>sprinkles <\/strong>(<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4dQLWWf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">these sprinkles are pictured<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-instructions\">\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-instructions-header\">\n<h3 data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"h3-color.color h3-transform.text-transform\">Instructions<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-instructions-body\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"body-color.color\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li id=\"instruction-step-1\"><strong>Make the cookies:<\/strong> Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Recipe_2_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-recipe adthrive-recipe-1 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"CMyyl7zc95MDFduWgwgdh9QjOw\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_2\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_2\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_2\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"5\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li id=\"instruction-step-2\">In a large bowl using a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3dBQItB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">handheld<\/a> or a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3QsPcbD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">stand mixer<\/a> fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.\u00a0Add the egg and vanilla and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.<\/li>\n<li id=\"instruction-step-3\">Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Dough will be soft. If the dough seems too soft and sticky for rolling, add 1 more Tablespoon of flour.<\/li>\n<li id=\"instruction-step-4\"><strong>Roll the dough:<\/strong> Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Dust 2 large pieces of parchment paper or 2 silicone baking mats with cocoa powder or flour. Place a dough half on each. With a rolling pin lightly dusted with cocoa powder or flour, roll the dough out to about 1\/4-inch thickness. Use more cocoa powder\/flour if the dough seems too sticky. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1\/4-inch thick.<\/li>\n<li id=\"instruction-step-5\"><strong>Chill the dough:<\/strong> Lightly dust one of the rolled-out doughs with cocoa powder or flour. Place a piece of parchment on top. (This prevents sticking.) Place the 2nd rolled-out dough on top. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours and up to 2 days.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Recipe_3_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-recipe adthrive-recipe-1 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"CJX0lbzc95MDFWUTpAYd9AgHIA\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_3\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_3\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" src=\"https:\/\/50f83cbbe571b93e36b957ab6e3138ba.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-45\/html\/container.html\" name=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-is-safeframe=\"true\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-container-id=\"2\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li id=\"instruction-step-6\"><strong>Preheat oven &amp; shape cookies:<\/strong> Once chilled, preheat oven to 350\u00b0F (177\u00b0C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Carefully remove the top dough piece from the refrigerator. Using cookie cutters, cut the dough into shapes. Re-roll the remaining dough, using more cocoa powder or flour to lightly dust your work surface and rolling pin, and continue cutting the dough until all is used. Work quickly so the dough doesn\u2019t become too warm or soft. If it does, stop what you\u2019re doing and place any unused dough back in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to stiffen up again. Repeat cutting into shapes with 2nd half of dough. (Note: It doesn\u2019t seem like a lot of dough, but you get a lot of cookies from the dough scraps you re-roll.)<\/li>\n<li id=\"instruction-step-7\"><strong>Bake &amp; cool:<\/strong> Arrange shaped cookies on baking sheets 3 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until edges are set. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.<\/li>\n<li id=\"instruction-step-8\"><strong>Make icing or buttercream: <\/strong>Prepare the <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/royal-icing\/\" rel=\"noopener\">royal icing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/easy-glaze-icing\/\" rel=\"\">cookie glaze icing<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/cookie-decorating-buttercream\/\">cookie decorating buttercream<\/a>, and decorate the cooled cookies however you\u2019d like. I decorated the pictured chocolate sugar cookie hearts with <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/cookie-decorating-buttercream\/\">cookie decorating buttercream<\/a>, piped on with a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/40yDjag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Wilton 1A piping tip<\/a>. Then I spread it around to flatten it out, and topped with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4dQLWWf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">these sprinkles<\/a>. This is a classic vanilla buttercream frosting that soft-sets on cookies after a few hours.<\/li>\n<li id=\"instruction-step-9\">Enjoy cookies right away or wait until the frosting\/icing sets to serve them. Once the icing has set, these cookies are great for gifting or for sending. Plain or decorated cookies stay soft for about 5 days when covered tightly at room temperature. For longer storage, cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-notes\">\n<h3 data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"h3-color.color h3-transform.text-transform\">Notes<\/h3>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-notes-body\" data-tasty-recipes-customization=\"body-color.color\">\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Recipe_4_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-recipe adthrive-recipe-1 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"CK_Ylrzc95MDFTyu0QQdw-8N0Q\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_4\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,22500585124\/AdThrive_Recipe_4\/566aefa94856897050ee7303_0\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" src=\"https:\/\/50f83cbbe571b93e36b957ab6e3138ba.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-45\/html\/container.html\" name=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-is-safeframe=\"true\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-container-id=\"6\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Freezing Instructions:<\/strong> Plain or decorated sugar cookies freeze well up to 3 months. Wait for the icing\/buttercream to set completely before layering between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-friendly container. To thaw, thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature. You can also freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months before rolling it out. Prepare the dough through step 3, divide in half, flatten both halves into a disk as we do with <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/baking-basics-homemade-buttery-flaky-pie-crust\/\" rel=\"noopener\">pie crust<\/a>, wrap each in plastic wrap, then freeze. To thaw, thaw the disks in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature for about 1 hour. Roll out the dough as directed in step 4, then chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour before cutting into shapes and baking.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Special Tools<\/strong>\u00a0(affiliate links):\u00a0Electric Mixer (<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3dBQItB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Handheld<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3QsPcbD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Stand Mixer<\/a>) |\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3xzOrXO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Baking Sheets<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3kOnpUm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Silicone Baking Mat<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3uO6APL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Parchment Paper<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3t1n5Wd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Rolling Pin<\/a>\u00a0or this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Rvb3Cs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Adjustable Rolling Pin<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Qma5KW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutter<\/a>\u00a0| <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2gT7aW9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\">Cooling Rack<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4dQLWWf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Naturally-Colored Sprinkles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Room Temperature:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/room-temperature-butter\/\">Room temperature butter<\/a> is essential. If the dough is too sticky, your butter may have been too soft. Room temperature butter is actually cool to the touch. Room temperature egg is preferred so it\u2019s quickly and evenly mixed into the cookie dough.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Icing or Buttercream:<\/strong> Use <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/royal-icing\/\">royal icing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/easy-glaze-icing\/\">cookie glaze icing<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/cookie-decorating-buttercream\/\">cookie buttercream<\/a> (what I used). See post above to read about the differences.<\/li>\n<li>Be sure to check out my top 5 <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/5-tips-improve-next-batch-cookies\/\"><span class=\"s1\">cookie baking success tips<\/span><\/a> AND these are my 10 must-have <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/10-best-cookie-baking-tools\/\"><span class=\"s1\">cookie baking tools<\/span><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tasty-recipes-source-link\">\n<p><strong class=\"tasty-recipes-label\">Find it online<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/chocolate-sugar-cookies\/\">https:\/\/sallysbakingaddiction.com\/chocolate-sugar-cookies\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From Sally&#8217;s Baking Addiction Key Ingredients &amp; Why They Matter With only 8 ingredients in this recipe, each and every one has an important job to do: All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure so the cookies hold their cut-out shapes. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: The star of the show! You can use natural or Dutch-process for slightly different &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/chcolate-sugar-cookie-recipe\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Chcolate Sugar Cookie Recipe&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,219,185],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-grandpas-private-collection","category-sallys-baking-addiction","category-third-party-material"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23614"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23614\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23618,"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23614\/revisions\/23618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grandpacooks.com\/recipes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}