Our children look forward to making these cute cookies each year. By now, they have become experts at creating silly faces with little candies.
—KATHY STOCK LEVAY, MO
PREP: 25 MIN. • BAKE: 10 MIN./BATCH + COOLING • MAKES: 2 DOZEN
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
24 lollipop sticks
Prepared vanilla frosting
Food coloring
Black and yellow decorating gels
Optional decorations: candy corn, candy eyeballs, M&M’s minis and cinnamon hearts
1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture. Shape dough into 1 1/2-in. balls. Place 3 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
2. Insert a lollipop stick into each cookie. Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Tint frosting; frost cookies. Decorate with gel and optional decorations as desired.