The BEST recipe for roll-out chocolate sugar cookies for cookie decorating! Scroll to the end for video how-tos and printable recipe. 

chocolate sugar cookies 

Here is the recipe for chocolate sugar cookies I’ve been using for 20 years, and never a fail! I’ve shared this roll-out and cut-out chocolate cookie dough recipe many times and it’s in Sugarlicious, of course. 

But this post is devoted just to the rich, delicious, chocolate cookie, perfectly paired with royal icing. It doesn’t spread in the oven, so you can keep your cookie cutter shapes beautifully. 

how to make chocolate sugar cookies 

you will need:

1 cup (2 sticks or 226 grams) slightly-softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

royal icing or frosting to decorate 

what to do: 

In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer or in the bowl of a standing mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and blend well.

Whisk together the dry ingredients in separate bowl. Gradually blend into the butter and sugar mixture.

Cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours.

Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface, cut out shapes, and place on a parchment paper-lined baking tray.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake one tray of cookies at a time until edges are firm, 12 to 15 minutes (depending on the size of the cookies).

how do you decorate chocolate cookies?

To decorate cookies, you can use either royal icing OR buttercream or bakery frosting.

• Royal icing is traditionally used for cookie decorating because it dries hard enough to package and even ship cookies.
• Bakery frosting or buttercream frosting, made with butter as it’s base so it never fully hardens, creates gorgeous dimension. 

These heart cookies are an example of decorating with bakery frosting, whereas these heart cookies are decorating with royal icing. 

to decorate the flower cookies 

To decorate the cookies shown, I used:

• size 3 tips 
• disposable decorating bags.

I tinted royal icing using:

• Sky Blue
• Electric Green
•  Electric Pink
• Electric Orange,
• Bright White. 

cookie decorating resources

• Find cookie decorating instructions here. 
• Learn all about food coloring here. 
• Take my cookie decorating course! Sign up at The Sugar Academy. 

chocolate sugar cookie printable recipe 

Yield: 25 medium cookies

chocolate sugar cookies

Print

THE BEST roll-out, cut-out CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES for cookie decorating.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks or 226 grams) slightly-softened butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer or in the bowl of a standing mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and blend well.

Whisk together the dry ingredients in separate bowl. Gradually blend into the butter and sugar mixture.

Cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours.

Roll out about 1/4-inch thick on a lightly floured surface, cut out shapes, and place on a parchment paper-lined baking tray.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake one tray of cookies at a time until edges are firm, 12 to 15 minutes (depending on the size of the cookies).

Notes

The amount of cookies you'll get will depend on the size of the cookie cutters. You can cut out 20 to 25 medium-size cookies (about 3-inches across).

Pair with frosting or royal icing.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

25

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 81Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 74mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 2g

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