Screaming Cookies

We are at home, because Hurricane Sandy is coming. Luckily, we still have power so I can work on my blog. It's almost Halloween, so I decided that I wanted to make something for the holiday. I invented and designed these cookies myself (with a little help from my Mom). The recipe for the dough is based on a very old Dutch recipe from my great grandma who is still alive. It takes some time to make them, but it's nice for rainy days or if you are waiting for a Hurricane to arrive!!!

 For the dough:

You will need 300 g (2 cups) flour, 150 g (2/3 cups) sugar, 3 tbs cocoa, 200 g (1 stick + 5 tbs) unsalted and soft butter, 1/2 tsp vanilla, and 1 1/2 tbs milk.

For the icing:

You will need 200 g (1 1/2 cup) powdered sugar, and 50 g (scant 2 oz) dark chocolate.

1. Mix the flour, sugar, and cocoa in a bowl. Add the butter, vanilla and milk and kneed everything into a big soft dough ball. Wrap the dough and put it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

 2. In the meantime, design your screams. Draw them on a piece of thick paper and cut them out (you do not need to draw a face on them. I just thought it was fun for the picture).

3. Preheat the oven to 190 C (375 F). Take your dough out of the fridge and roll it out on a floured surface until it is as thick as about 1/2 cm. (scant 1/4 in.).

4. Put your paper screams on the dough and cut around them with a knife. When cut out,  transfer to a baking sheet.

5. Put the cookies in the oven for 10-12 min.

6. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack, and let them cool completely.

7. Mix the powdered sugar with 1 1/2-2 tbs of water to make the icing. If it's too liquid, add a little bit more powdered sugar. If it's too thick, add a little bit more water. Then, cover the cookies with icing. Let the icing dry.

8. To make the faces, break the chocolate in pieces and put them in a bowl that can be heated. Put the bowl on a pan with boiling water in it. Make sure the water doesn't touch the bowl. Melt the chocolate slowly on a low temperature. Stir from time to time. Make the faces with the melted chocolate, using a small teaspoon. 

9. Let the faces dry. Enjoy your screaming cookies. Happy Halloween!!!