Witch Hats

These are a great treat to make with kids.  Make the cookies ahead of time and let them assemble the hats.  Fill the hats with whatever candy you like - I think M&M's work well, and I like to mix a few different varieties.  The cookie recipe below is a kind of gingerbread-y chocolate cookie.  If you prefer, make your favorite sugar cookie recipe, replacing 1/2 c of the flour with 1/2 c cocoa.

Chocolate Witches’ Hats

• 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
• 1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 6 T unsalted butter, softened
• 1/3 c packed dark-brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 c molasses
• 12 sugar ice cream cones
• M&M's or other small candy
• 12-15 oz melted chocolate (used chocolate dipping wafers, Hershey bars, or chocolate chips)
• Twizzler Pull –n- peels, or other long, thin candy

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, cloves, salt, and baking soda.

Place butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add egg and molasses; mix until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Halve dough; shape into disks. Wrap each disk in plastic; refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thick. (If dough becomes too soft at any time, freeze until firm.) Cut dough into 12 circles using a 3 1/2-inch round cutter; space 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.

Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until firm, 11 to 13 minutes. Cool on sheets on wire racks.

Line a baking sheet with parchment.  Using a pastry brush, paint a thick layer of melted chocolate on the top of one cookie.  Fill one cone with M&M's and press the cookie gently on the cone.  Invert carefully and repeat the process with remaining cookies and cones. Chill for 10 minutes to set. Remove from refrigerator and paint entire surface of hats (cones and cookies) with chocolate. Chill until set, about 20 minutes, then tie candy belts around the base of each hat.