CHOCOLATE SKELETON RECIPES

Steps:

• Cream butter, shortening and sugar together.
• Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
• Add baking powder and salt and mix again.
• Stir in the cocoa until well blended.
• Add flour 1 cup at a time.
• ** IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE COOKIES RIGHT AWAY, ADD 3 1/2 cups flour. If you are going to “chill” the dough, or just wait for another day to make your cookies, STOP AT 3 cups.
• Roll out on lightly floured surface to 3/8 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters.
• Bake at 375 F for 6 1/2 minutes. Let cool completely before removing from cookie sheet.
• Using a #2 tip, pipe white frosting in skeleton patterns.
• Let frosting dry 24 hours before stacking.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until easy to handle. , On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. gingerbread boy cookie cutter. Place on greased baking sheets. , Bake at 375° for 7-8 minutes or until set. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , For icing, in a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. Cut a small hole in the corner of a resealable plastic bag; fill with icing. Pipe skeleton bones on cookies.