Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

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
• cooking spray
• 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 3 tablespoons 2% low-fat milk

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350º.
• 2 lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, stirring well with a whisk.
• 3 place shortening in a large mixing bowl; beat with a heavy-duty mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy.
• 4 gradually add the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until well blended. add vanilla and egg ; beat well.
• 5 add flour mixture; beat until well blended.
• 6 turn dough out onto wax paper; shape into a 6-inch log. wrap log in wax paper. freeze 2 hours or until very firm.
• 7 cut log into 24 (1/4-inch) slices, and place slices 1 inch apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray.
• 8 bake at 350º for 10 minutes or until set. remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
• 9 combine powdered sugar and milk in a medium bowl; stir well with a whisk until smooth.
• 10 spoon into a small zip-top plastic bag; seal. snip a tiny hole in 1 corner of bag. working with 1 cookie at a time, pipe 3 concentric circles onto each cookie.
• 11 starting at center circle, pull a wooden pick through other circles at regular intervals to create a "web.".