Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Sanding sugar, for sprinkling
Preparation
Sift flour, cocoa, salt, and cinnamon together into a bowl; set aside. Put butter and confectioners sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Wrap dough in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill in freezer 15 minutes.
Using a 2- or 3-inch X- or O-shaped cookie cutter or a template and a knife, quickly cut out shapes from dough (if dough begins to soften, chill it in freezer 3 to 5 minutes). Reroll and cut scraps.
Transfer shapes to baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Chill in freezer until firm, about 15 minutes.
Brush flour from shapes. Sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake until crisp, about 8 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
