Here’s a little twist on a classic favorite – Chocolate Sugar Cookies! I know we all get down on a good, old-fashioned sugar cookie, but, boo – let me tell ya, adding a bit of chocolate to the mix takes it to a whole new level of dopeness. Get at this batch of soft, buttery, rich chocolate sugar cookies!!
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These cut-out chocolate sugar cookies are perfect for the holidays and for when you’re feeling, well chocolatey! And let me tell you, these aren’t just any “basic” chocolate cookies, y’all… They’re the perfect balance of sweet, a hint of salty, and a whole lot of chocolate goodness. SO addictive!!
Plus, chocolate sugar cookies are not just for the holiday season – they great all year-round!
The Lowdown on These Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Baking
Dietary Info: Vegetarian
Key Flavor: Sweet and Chocolatey
Skill Level: Beginner, boos!
Simplicity at Its Best
In a world where cookies are often loaded with every add-in under the sun, these chocolate sugar cookies are shortbread-like cookies that stand out with their simplicity. There’s no extra candy here, just pure, rich chocolate flavor!
Ideal for Gatherings
Planning a get-together or heading to a cookie swap? This recipe has you covered, boo! You can easily whip up a big batch. Doubling or even tripling the recipe is super easy.
Effortless Prep
Even tho the dough does need a bit of chill time in the fridge, making it is really stupid easy.
Ingredients you’ll need to make Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Flour: All-purpose flour is your go-to for these cookies. Remember to sift it before mixing to avoid any lumps and get that perfect cookie texture!
- Baking powder: This leavener helps your cookies puff up just enough, making them soft and delicious.
- Cocoa powder: This is where that rich, chocolatey magic happens! Make sure it’s unsweetened to balance the sweetness just right.
- Kosher salt: A pinch of salt is key in any sweet treat. It balances the flavors and enhances the overall taste of the chocolate sugar cookies.
- Butter: You’ll want to stick with unsalted butter here. It lets you control the saltiness of your cookies and ensures that rich, buttery flavor shines through.
- Granulated sugar: This sweet staple gives your cookies that crave-worthy sweetness.
- Egg: Room-temperature eggs mix better and help bind everything together, giving you the perfect amount of moisture for a tender bite.
- Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla adds a layer of warm, aromatic flavor that complements the chocolate beautifully.
- Sanding sugar: A sprinkle on top for a bit of sparkle and a slight crunch! It’s like the cherry on top for these easy chocolate cookies with cocoa powder.
How to make Chocolate Sugar Cookies
What to Serve with Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
- Warm Drinks: Imagine biting into a soft, chocolatey cookie while sipping on your favorite warm drink. Pair these cookies with a rich hot chocolate, a steaming cup of coffee, or a hot buttered rum for a cozy treat on chilly evenings.
- Create a Cookie Assortment: Whether it’s Christmas, a birthday party, or just a gathering of friends, these cookies are fantastic as part of a larger cookie spread! Surround them with classics like snickerdoodles, oatmeal raisin cookies, and chewy chocolate chip cookies.
- Use Them For Ice Cream Sandwiches: For a fun dessert, use these cookies to make ice cream sandwiches. Just add a scoop of your favorite ice cream (vanilla, strawberry, or even cookies and cream) between two cookies and voilà, a deliciously cool treat!
- Caramel Drizzle: Take these cookies over the top by drizzling caramel sauce (or vegan caramel sauce) on top after they’ve cooled.
Recipe Substitutions
- Butter: If you’re steering clear of dairy, swap out the butter for an equal amount of vegetable shortening.
- Cocoa Powder: For a deeper, richer chocolate flavor, try using Dutch-processed cocoa powder instead of the regular kind. It has a darker, bittersweet chocolate taste.
- Sanding Sugar: Regular granulated sugar or even colored sugar sprinkles work well for that sweet, sparkly finish on top.
- Flour: To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend that’s a 1:1 replacement.
Recipe Variations and Additions
- Mix In Orange Zest: Grate some orange zest into your cookie dough for a fresh, citrusy burst. The combo of orange and chocolate is classic and absolutely mouth-watering!!
- Try Adding Espresso Powder: To enhance the chocolate flavor even more, consider adding a teaspoon of espresso powder to the dough. It doesn’t make the cookies taste like pure coffee, but it does make the chocolate flavor more pronounced and complex.
- Peppermint Flair: For a holiday twist, add ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract. Chocolate and peppermint are a match made in heaven, especially around Christmas time.
- Chocolate Chips: Want more chocolate? Add a handful of mini chocolate chips to the dough for pockets of melty goodness in every bite.
Expert Tips and Tricks for making the best Soft Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Scrape That Bowl: Don’t underestimate the power of scraping down the sides of your mixing bowl! Doing this several times while mixing ensures all ingredients are well-incorporated, leading to an even, consistent dough.
- Room Temperature is Key: Cold ingredients can lead to lumpy dough, so make sure your egg and butter are at room temperature before you start. This simple step makes a big difference in how well these ingredients blend together.
- Cream Butter and Sugar Well: Take your time creaming the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. This step is crucial for incorporating air into your dough, giving you lighter, soft cocoa cookies. Rushing through this can result in tough cookies, so show some patience here!
- Chill to Avoid Spreading: Don’t skip the chilling step boos! Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, ensuring they keep their shape. It also makes the dough easier to handle when rolling and cutting.
How to store Chocolate Sugar Cookies
To store these yummy chocolate sugar cookies, just keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. However, be sure to let them cool completely before storing them to avoid any moisture buildup. We shole don’t want a soggy cookie, boo!
How long will Chocolate Sugar Cookies last?
If you find yourself with a few too many cookies, don’t worry. They’re just as tasty a few days later, especially with a warm drink! Actually, these chocolate sugar cookies will stay fresh for about 5 to 7 days when stored properly. Over time, they may lose a bit of their softness, but they’ll still be delicious.
Can I freeze these cookies?
For longer storage, you can freeze both the baked cookies and the cookie dough. To freeze the cookies, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper. They’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months. For the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake, just thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight. The dough can be frozen for up to 3 months as well, making it super convenient to have a batch of cookies ready whenever the craving strikes.
Frequently asked questions
Chocolate sugar cookies are ready when the edges are set but the center still looks a bit soft. They will firm up as they cool, so be careful not to overbake them if you want them to stay soft and chewy!
Sure! You can use brown sugar for a caramel-like flavor and slightly denser texture. Keep in mind that the color of the cookies will be darker due to the molasses in the brown sugar.
If your cookies are too hard, they might have been overbaked. Remember, they continue to cook a bit after being removed from the oven, so it’s best to take them out when they’re just set. Also, make sure your dough isn’t rolled out too thinly, as this can also lead to overbaking. And don’t forget to measure your flour correctly! Too much flour can make cookies tough.
Y’all, if you’re jazzing up these Chocolate Sugar Cookies for the gram or cozying up with your go-to sip, or straight-up snacking from the jar, trust, they’re gonna make you do that happy dance! Each nibble packs that lush, chocolatey vibe mixed with a sweet, buttery bliss that’s legit addictive. So, honey, fire up that mixer, and let’s get those sweet, sweet baking vibes rolling through your kitchen!
More Chocolate Cookie Recipes
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Orange Chocolate Cookies
- Turtle Cookie Recipe
- Mississippi Mud Cookies
- Lavender Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
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Equipment
- Cookie Cutter
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- Sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Place rack in middle position. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.
- In stand mixer, add butter and sugar and mix on high for 4-5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Add in egg and vanilla, and continue mixing until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
- Decrease speed and add flour mixture in two additions. Mix until combined.
- Divide dough into two pieces, cover with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for 1 1/2 – 2 hours.
- Dust another sheet of parchment paper with flour, place one disc of dough and dust with a bit more flour, then roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut into desired shapes and place on prepared pans. Sprinkle sanding sugar on top.
- Bake for 11-12 minutes.
- Cool for 2-3 minutes on baking sheet. Then carefully remove and let fully cool on wire rack.
Notes
- Scrape That Bowl: Don’t underestimate the power of scraping down the sides of your mixing bowl! Doing this several times while mixing ensures all ingredients are well-incorporated, leading to an even, consistent dough.
- Room Temperature is Key: Cold ingredients can lead to lumpy dough, so make sure your egg and butter are at room temperature before you start. This simple step makes a big difference in how well these ingredients blend together.
- Cream Butter and Sugar Well: Take your time creaming the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. This step is crucial for incorporating air into your dough, giving you lighter, soft cocoa cookies. Rushing through this can result in tough cookies, so show some patience here!
- Chill to Avoid Spreading: Don’t skip the chilling step boos! Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, ensuring they keep their shape. It also makes the dough easier to handle when rolling and cutting.
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Whipped up a batch of these for an afternoon treat, and they do not disappoint! Turned out moist, easy and delicious; definitely, a. new favorite recipe!
Love this twist on regular sugar cookies!! These turned out so well – slightly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and so chocolatey too!
My new favorite sugar cookie! They held their shape so well – didn’t spread at all, and were still a great texture. And bonus – they’re chocolate!
Well, these look delicious! Do you know I lived most of my life not knowing that sugar cookies came in chocolate? Shocking, I know. I can’t wait to try your recipe!
My mom taught me to use powdered sugar instead of flour when rolling out sugar cookie dough…she always said it prevented them from getting tough. I have no idea if that’s true but that’s how I’ve always done it.