Cookie Spiders
Oct 25th, 2002, 08:37am, Posted by Marlaoh
Source: Better Homes and Gardens

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate pieces
1 recipe Decorating Icing (recipe follows)



1. In a medium mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed about 30 seconds. Add the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined. Beat in the egg, melted chocolate, and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour and the chocolate pieces.
2. Shape dough into two 12-inch-long rolls. Wrap rolls in waxed paper; chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Cut dough into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place slices 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake cookies in a 375 degree F. oven about 7 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool.
4. Spoon Decorating Icing into a decorating bag fitted with a writing tip or fluted tip. Pipe icing into various size spiders or other Halloween shapes on cookies. Let cookies stand until icing is set. Makes about 90 cookies.
Decorating Icing: In a small mixing bowl stir together 1 cup sifted powdered sugar and enough milk to make an icing that is easy to pipe. Tint with desired colors of paste or liquid food coloring.
Make-ahead tip: Prepare dough and shape into logs; wrap tightly, label and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before slicing and baking.