Witching Hour Cut-Outs

Cookie Ingredients:

1 cup LAND O LAKES ® Butter, softened*
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting Ingredients:

4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup LAND O LAKES ® Butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons milk
Food color, if desired

1. Combine butter and sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add milk, vanilla and egg; mix well. Reduce speed to low; add flour, cocoa, melted chocolate, baking powder and baking soda. Beat until well mixed.
2. Divide dough in half. Wrap in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate 2 hours.
3. Heat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-half at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with floured 2 1/4 to 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Cut out center of half of cookies with Halloween-shaped 1-inch cookie cutter.
4. Bake for 8 to 11 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely.
5. Combine powdered sugar, butter and vanilla in small bowl. Beat at low speed, gradually adding milk and scraping bowl often, until desired spreading consistency. Add food color, if desired. Spread 2 teaspoons frosting on each bottom cookie; top with cut-out cookie.

Makes 3 dozen sandwich cookies.

*Substitute LAND O LAKES ® Soft Baking Butter with Canola Oil right from the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts (1 sandwich cookie):
Calories: 180
Fat: 8 g
Cholesterol: 25 mg
Sodium: 85 mg
Carbohydrates: 25 g
Dietary Fiber: <1 g
Protein: 2 g

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Land O Lakes, Inc.