Chocolate sugar cut out cookies that keep their form, covered with luscious royal icing! Try my no-chill sugar cookie cutouts next time.

Today’s recipe is for Chocolate Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs. Not only regular chocolate sugar cookie cut-outs, but DINOSAUR chocolate sugar cookie cut-outs as well. OMG, YES. On this one, I’m cranking it up to eleven.

I’ve spent a long time (much longer than I want to admit) attempting to perfect the taste, texture, and density of chocolate sugar cookies. I’ve spent even more time attempting to create these as cut-outs.

I have nothing against ordinary sugar cookie cut-outs, but you know how I like to complicate things.

• I experimented with various amounts of butter, egg, cocoa powder, and flour.
• Instead of cocoa powder, I used melted chocolate (p.s.: dont do that).
• I used dark brown sugar with granulated sugar.
• I used avocado for butter, which, although tasty, did not hold up in the form I desired.

or brown sugar in place of coconut sugar. Finally, victory! Then things began to come together when I switched from unsweetened cocoa powder to Dutch processed cocoa powder. I switched granulated sugar for

Take a look at those deep ridges. Take a look at that definition! That’s precisely what I was looking for. It wasn’t enough to just keep the form around the borders. I needed a cookie stamp that would leave an imprint and stay.

As I pulled them out of the oven, I exclaimed, “YES!” THEY ARE AMAZING! My poor guy heard a lot of self-praise coming from the kitchen.

Since, well, this Instagram post will explain, I decided to name them Prhistorique Biscuits. Then there’s that whole SEO thing where your title should convey what your piece is about, keywords, etc blah blah.

You and I may still refer to them as prhistorique biscuits as an inside joke.

That’s a great definition! I can’t believe how wonderfully they turned out.

I can’t say enough good things about Fred & Friends’ dinosaur cookie cutters. They’re so adorable! My only criticism is that there aren’t more dinosaur forms. I’d love to see a pterodactyl, ankylosaurus, brontosaurus, and so on.

Ingredients for chocolate sugar cookies

Cookies:

• room temperature unsalted butter
• cup light brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 1 room temperature egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• Unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder or Special Dark cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

Royal Icing:

• granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon warm water, preferably between 105F and 115F
• 1 teaspoon meringue powder
• 1 teaspoon almond extract or your preferred extract
• 1 tsp cream of tartar

How to make chocolate sugar cookies

Cookies:

• In a large mixing basin, beat the butter for 1 minute on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as required, until smooth and creamy.
• Add the coconut sugar and continue to beat on high until frothy.
• Beat in the egg and vanilla extract on high speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour and cocoa powder. Whisk in the baking powder and salt to mix.
• Carefully add the dry ingredients to the wet components and blend on low speed. The dough will be quite thick and black, like to charcoal.
• 4 mm thick. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill. Put parchment paper on a baking sheet (or a big nonstick silicon mat on your counter) and spoon dough into the center. Put another piece of paper on top and roll out the dough to 1 inch thick.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Set aside two baking sheets lined with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
• Take the dough from the fridge and cut out each biscuit using cookie cutters. Continue re-rolling the dough as required until it is all gone. If it becomes too warm, put it back in the fridge before continuing to chop.
• Put on prepared baking pans, leaving some space between each. You don’t need to give as much space as you would with regular cookies since they won’t spread, but don’t overcrowd them!
• Cook for 9 minutes (this is the time I found ideal for larger cookies if yours are smaller, start with 7 minutes and go from there). Let to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool fully.

Royal Icing:

• Combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing basin. Beat on low until just blended, then on high for 5-10 minutes, or until stuff peaks develop.
• Fill a piping bag with the mixture and go to work! If you’re creating the same dinosaur cookies, fill a piping bag with the tiniest round tip you have. Draw skeletons onto each biscuit with consistent pressure.
• Let at least 4 hours for cookies to set before stacking them (layered between parchment paper). Serve and have fun!

Decorating dinosaur cookies

As soon as I finished icing half of them, I sprinkled them with brown sugar to create the idea of dirt, as if you were uncovering dinosaur bones from the ground and brushing them off before eating them.

Wait I don’t recall seeing that scene in Jurassic Park. That reminds me, I should go watch it right now since I never get tired of it. NEVER.

I took them into my workplace for a few colleagues who share my genuine passion for dinosaurs (and that love is deep, my friends), and they were a hit.

Several individuals stated they reminded them of hot chocolate in cookie shape, while others said they reminded them of brownies.

Whatever they remind you of, I believe they’ll be a hit with whomever receives your chocolate-y present.

Because of the cuteness element, they would make excellent Christmas presents! So, if you’re still looking for a gift for your sweet aunt who doesn’t need any more crocheted cat pot holders, or that strange cousin who you have no idea what to do with, make a batch of these, tie them up in a little bag with some dark brown sugar and cocoa in the bottom (to look like dirt), and voila!

They can’t help but enjoy this instant present. So brace yourself for the inevitable JP reenactments as they pursue you around with these nasty boys. Pretend you’re Jeff Goldblum and simply say, MUST GO FASTER! and it will make an excellent YouTube video (that youll obviously send me a link to ASAP).

I may have gone a bit overboard.

Even as a cookie, the t-rex is terrifying. Rawr!