Mexican Hot Chocolate & Spiced Cookies

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

This small batch recipe is the perfect holiday cookie. Full of spices but not too sweet, they are sure to be a hit! Mix up a batch of royal icing and make them look like snowflakes!

Yield: 20–24 cookies

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• 1 stick softened butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

For the Royal Icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon meringue powder
• 3–4 tablespoons water

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl, cream butter until smooth. Add vanilla and mix well.
• In another bowl combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and chili powder. Add to butter mixture and combine just until dough comes together.
• Turn out onto a floured counter and roll out about 1/4″ thick. Cut with desired cutters, re-rolling dough as necessary.
• Transfer to parchment lined cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes. Do not over bake. Cool completely on wire racks and frost.