Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies

Tomorrow is Halloween! If you are like me and have to work, or just don't have plans, stay inside and make these delicious "scaaaary" cookies. If you have kids, than this is a great recipe to let them help out on. These cookies are also called refrigerator cookies, where you make the dough and put it in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to slice and bake. Not only does it help give your cookies a nice shape, it is a great make ahead recipe when you need a little extra time. 

Get that candy ready, turn off the lights and put on the scariest movie you know. I am a wuss and try to avoid scary movies, especially when I'm on my own. I think I will find a semi-scary movie, like I am Legend or 28 Days Later. Well, maybe not that last one. :)

Happy Halloween!!

Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies

Cooking Light Complete Cookbook

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup vegetable shortening

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg white 

Cooking spray

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

3 tablespoons 2% reduced-fat milk

Direction:

1. Lightly spoon flour in to a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stirring well with a whisk. Place shortening in a large mixing bowl; beat with a heavy duty mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; beating until well blended. Add vanilla and egg whites; beat well. Add flour mixture; beat until well combined.
2. Turn dough out onto wax paper; shaped into a 6-inch log. Wrap log in wax paper. Freeze for 2 hours or until very firm.
3. Preheat oven to 350'.
4. Cut log into 24 (1/4-inch) slices, and place slices 1 inch apart on baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350' for 10 minutes or until set. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.
5. Combine powdered sugar and milk in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk until smooth. Spoon into a small zip-lock plastic bag; seal. Snip a tiny hole in 1 corner of the bag. Working with one cookie at a time; pipe 3 concentric circles on cookie. Starting at the center circle, pull a wooden pick through other circles at regular intervals to create a "web." 

Makes 2 dozen

Nutrition: (1 cookie) Calories 102; Fat 2.9g; Protein 1g; Carb 19g; Fiber 1g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 42mg