STENCLING RECIPES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a flexible spatula until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Add the egg and vanilla and stir until well combined.
• Place a fine-mesh sieve over the bowl and sift in the flour. Fold with the spatula until the flour is fully incorporated and the dough comes together.
• Shape the dough into a disc, then cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes to overnight.
• Meanwhile Using thick paper and a craft knife, cut out a round stencil of your choosing. Set aside.
• Cut a square from a double layer of cheesecloth. Place the cocoa powder in the center. Gather the edges, twist, and tie with kitchen string to create a sachet.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Lightly dust a clean surface with flour. Place chilled dough on work surface and lightly dust with flour. Roll the dough out to ¼-inch (6-mm) thick, lifting and turning the dough as you roll to keep it from sticking. Using a 2-inch (5-cm) round cookie cutter, cut out rounds of dough. Gather scraps of dough and reroll to cut out more rounds, lightly dusting the work surface with flour as needed.
• Place the rounds on the prepared baking sheet, spacing 1 inch (2 ½ cm) apart.
• Place the stencil over a dough round, making sure to press down, and gently dab with the cocoa powder sachet to cover completely.
• Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through, until pale golden. Let cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Sift flour, cocoa, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt into a large bowl.
• Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, and beat until combined. Divide dough in half, and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out cookies in desired shapes using cookie cutters, and transfer to baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Bake until crisp, but not dark, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks, and let cool completely.
• Punch desired shape out of stiff paper (we used a thick envelope) using a craft punch. Hold stencil over 1 cookie, and brush a thin layer of icing over exposed surface using a small food-safe paintbrush. Holding stencil in place, gently sift confectioners' sugar over cookie through a fine sieve to evenly coat exposed surface. Lift stencil, and return cookie to wire rack. Repeat with remaining cookies. Let dry.