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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

    Published: Dec 23, 2016 · Last modified: Oct 8, 2022 by Leslie Kiszka / This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 6 votes
    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Dinosaurs

    Soft, rich, chewy chocolate sugar cut out cookies that hold their shape, topped with sweet royal icing! Next time try my no chill sugar cookie cutouts.

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Dinosaurs

    Today I present you with Chocolate Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs. And not just chocolate sugar cookie cut-outs – DINOSAUR chocolate sugar cookie cut-outs. OH YEAH. I’m turning it up to eleven for this one.

    I’ve spent a long time (longer than I care to admit) trying to make chocolate sugar cookies that were the right flavor, texture, and density. I’ve spent even longer than that trying to make them as cut-outs.

    I have nothing against plain sugar cookie cut-outs, but you know me – just gotta make things difficult.

    • I played with different quantities of butter, egg, cocoa powder, and flour.
    • I tried using melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder (p.s.: don’t do that).
    • I swapped granulated sugar for dark brown sugar.
    • I swapped butter for avocado – which, to be fair, tasted good but didn’t hold up in the shape I wanted.

    Then things started to come together… I swapped unsweetened cocoa powder for Dutch processed. I swapped granulated and/or brown sugar for coconut sugar. Finally, success!

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Dinosaurs

    Look at those deep ridges. Check out that definition! That’s exactly what I was after. It wasn’t enough to just hold the shape around the edges – I wanted a cookie stamp to make an impression and for it to stick.

    I kid you not, when I took these out of the oven I yelled out, “YES! THESE ARE SO GOOD!” My poor boyfriend was subjected to a lot of self-praise echoing out of the kitchen.

    I wanted to call these “Préhistorique Biscuits” because… well… this Instagram post will explain. But there’s that whole aspect of SEO where your title should explain the content of your post, keywords, blah blah blah.

    You and I can still call them préhistorique biscuits and it can be an inside joke.

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Dinosaurs

    That definition! I just can’t get over how well these turn out.

    I can’t recommend these dinosaur cookie cutters from Fred & Friends enough. They’re so darn cute! My only complaint is that there aren’t more dinosaur shapes – I could totally use a pterodactyl, ankylosaurus, brontosaurus… well, you get the idea.

    Ingredients for chocolate sugar cookies

    Cookies:

    • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
    • ¾ cup coconut sugar, or light brown sugar
    • 1 egg, room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • ⅔ cup unsweetened dutch process or Special Dark cocoa powder
    • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
    • Pinch of salt

    Royal Icing:

    • ⅔ cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon warm water, ideally 105°F -115°F
    • 1 tablespoon meringue powder
    • ½ teaspoon almond extract, or other extract of choice
    • ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar

    How to make chocolate sugar cookies

    Cookies:

    • In a large bowl, use the paddle attachment on your mixer to beat the butter for 1 minute on medium speed until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • Add the coconut sugar and beat on high speed until fluffy.
    • Add the egg and vanilla and beat on high speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and cocoa powder. Add baking powder and salt, and whisk to combine.
    • Slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients and mix on low speed until combined. Dough will be very thick and dark like charcoal.
    • Place parchment paper on a baking sheet (or large nonstick silicon mat on your counter), and scoop dough into the middle of the prepared sheet. Place another piece of parchment on top and use a rolling pin to spread dough out to ¼″ thickness. Place in fridge for at least 1 hour to chill.
    • Preheat oven 350°F. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper and set aside.
    • Remove dough from the fridge and use cookie cutters to cut out each cookie. Keep re-rolling the dough as needed until it’s all used – if you find it getting too warm, place it back in the fridge before you keep cutting.
    • Place on prepared baking sheets with a little room between each. You don’t have to leave as much room as you would with other cookies because these won’t spread, but don’t make it too crowded!
    • Bake 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). Allow to cool on baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Royal Icing:

    • In a large bowl, add all ingredients. Beat on low speed until just combined, then beat on high speed for 5-10 minutes until stuff peaks form.
    • Spoon into a piping bag and get to work! If you’re making these same dinosaur cookies, prepare the piping bag with your smallest round tip. Use steady pressure to draw skeletons onto each cookie.
    • Let cookies set for at least 4 hours before you stack them (layered between parchment paper). Serve and enjoy!
    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Dinosaurs

    Decorating dinosaur cookies

    For half of them, as soon as I was done frosting them I added a sprinkle of brown sugar to give the illusion of dirt – you know, as if you were unearthing dinosaur skeletons from the ground and dusting them off before you ate them.

    Wait… I don’t remember seeing that part in Jurassic Park. Which reminds me, I should go watch that immediately because I never get sick of it. NEVER.

    I brought them into my office for a handful of people who have the same true love for dinosaurs that I do (and that love goes deep, my friends) and everyone loved them.

    Some people said that they reminded them of hot cocoa in cookie form, some said they were reminiscent of brownies.

    No matter what they remind you of, I think they’ll be a hit to whomever is on the receiving end of your chocolate-y gift.

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Dinosaurs

    These would be wonderful as Christmas gifts just because of the cuteness factor! So, if you’re still looking for something to give your sweet aunt who doesn’t need anymore crocheted cat pot holders, or that weird cousin who you have no idea what to do with – make a batch of these, tie ’em up in a little bag with some dark brown sugar and cocoa in the bottom (to look like dirt) and voila!

    Instant gift that they can’t help but love. Just be prepared for the inevitable reenactments of JP while they chase you around with these bad boys. Pretend you’re Jeff Goldblum and just say, “Must go faster – MUST GO FASTER!” and it’ll make for a fantastic YouTube video (that you’ll obviously send me a link to ASAP).

    I may have gotten a little carried away… 

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Dinosaurs

    Look how intimidating the t-rex is, even as a cookie. Rawr!

    After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Dinosaurs

    Chocolate Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

    5 from 6 votes
    Soft, rich, chewy chocolate sugar cut out cookies that hold their shape, topped with sweet royal icing!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
    Cook Time 9 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 39 minutes
    Servings 12 to 24 cookies (depending on size)
        ✓ Read the recipe from beginning to end
          ✓ Check oven calibration
            ✓ Check expiration dates
              ✓ Properly measure ingredients
                ✓ Check butter temperature

    Recommended Equipment

    • Dinosaur cookie stamps
    • Stand Mixer
    • Mixing bowls
    • Whisk
    • Baking sheets
    • Nonstick silicone mat
    • Parchment paper (precut)
    • Hand mixer
    • Pastry bags (disposable)
    • Pastry bag (reusable)

    Ingredients
     
     

    Cookies:

    • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
    • ¾ cup coconut sugar, or light brown sugar
    • 1 egg, room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • ⅔ cup unsweetened dutch process or Special Dark cocoa powder
    • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
    • Pinch of salt

    Royal Icing:

    • ⅔ cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon warm water, ideally 105°F -115°F
    • 1 tablespoon meringue powder
    • ½ teaspoon almond extract, or other extract of choice
    • ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar

    Instructions
     

    Cookies:

    • In a large bowl, use the paddle attachment on your mixer to beat the butter for 1 minute on medium speed until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
      ½ cup unsalted butter
    • Add the coconut sugar and beat on high speed until fluffy.
      ¾ cup coconut sugar
    • Add the egg and vanilla and beat on high speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
      1 egg | 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and cocoa powder. Add baking powder and salt, and whisk to combine.
      1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour | ⅔ cup unsweetened dutch process or Special Dark cocoa powder | ¾ teaspoon baking powder | Pinch of salt
    • Slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients and mix on low speed until combined. Dough will be very thick and dark like charcoal.
    • Place parchment paper on a baking sheet (or large nonstick silicon mat on your counter), and scoop dough into the middle of the prepared sheet. Place another piece of parchment on top and use a rolling pin to spread dough out to ¼″ thickness. Place in fridge for at least 1 hour to chill.
    • Preheat oven 350°F. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper and set aside.
    • Remove dough from the fridge and use cookie cutters to cut out each cookie. Keep re-rolling the dough as needed until it’s all used – if you find it getting too warm, place it back in the fridge before you keep cutting.
    • Place on prepared baking sheets with a little room between each. You don’t have to leave as much room as you would with other cookies because these won’t spread, but don’t make it too crowded!
    • Bake 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). Allow to cool on baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Royal Icing:

    • In a large bowl, add all ingredients. Beat on low speed until just combined, then beat on high speed for 5-10 minutes until stuff peaks form.
      ⅔ cup powdered sugar | 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon warm water | 1 tablespoon meringue powder | ½ teaspoon almond extract | ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
    • Spoon into a piping bag and get to work! If you’re making these same dinosaur cookies, prepare the piping bag with your smallest round tip. Use steady pressure to draw skeletons onto each cookie.
    • Let cookies set for at least 4 hours before you stack them (layered between parchment paper). Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Store in airtight containers for no more than 2 weeks.
    • The number of cookies depends completely on the size you make them – using the Fred Dig-Ins dinosaur cookie cutters, I’m able to get 10-12. Making various shaped 3″ cookies, I get 24.
    • If you’re going to color the icing, separate it into separate bowls and add color one at a time, whipping to stiff peaks before you pipe them onto your cookies. I recommend only working with one batch of color at a time as royal icing dries out quickly. If you must have multiple colors to work with at the same time, keep each bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap until ready to be used.
    • Nutrition information is based on 24 cookies.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 256IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Author Leslie Kiszka
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating!

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    Leslie Kiszka in a red dress

    About Leslie

    I'm the hot mess behind every recipe you see here! I use baking as an outlet for relieving stress and anxiety to provide you with approachable homemade recipes and a little humor, for good measure.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Marta

      October 02, 2022 at 6:09 pm

      Hi!
      So I am looking for a perfect shape-holding cookie recipe.
      I wanna make some D&D dice cookies for my party!
      But I wanted to make them lime flavor, so if I omit cocoa powder should I add 2/3 cup of flour instead?
      Whatcha think? I’d appreciate the replay
      Sending hugs from Poland

      Reply
      • Leslie Kiszka

        October 03, 2022 at 12:11 pm

        Oo, that sounds so fun! I would recommend using my No Chill Sugar Cookie Cutouts recipe as the base instead: https://stressbaking.com/no-chill-cookie-cutter-sugar-cookies/

        Reply
        • Marta

          October 09, 2022 at 5:40 am

          Thank You so much!
          I will try it!

    2. Li. A

      May 08, 2022 at 6:08 am

      5 stars
      Chocolatey and kept their shape, not too sweet which was great for me. Did not try frosting but I am sure would go well.

      Reply
      • Leslie Kiszka

        May 08, 2022 at 4:48 pm

        So glad you liked them, thank you for coming back to share your experience!

        Reply
    3. Noelia

      September 28, 2021 at 5:59 am

      5 stars
      Hi, I just made these for my daughter’s birthday and they turned out fantastic. THANK YOU!

      Reply
      • Leslie Kiszka

        September 28, 2021 at 9:56 am

        I’m so glad you liked them!

        Reply

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