Recipe from our chefs: Cocoa cut-out holiday cookies

A great way to dive into the holiday spirit is by filling your home with the smell of freshly baked cookies, then decorating them and sharing some with friends.

This recipe for chocolate cut outs is simple and tasty. Pop them into the oven and in eight minutes, your whole house will smell like the holidays — better than any scented candle.

Start to finish: 30 minutes

Recipe Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup (12 tablespoons) margarine, softened
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 egg
• 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour/unbleached flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch salt

Recipe Steps:

1. In a large bowl, combine sugar, margarine, milk and egg. Blend well. Stir in flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Chill dough 1 hour.
2. Heat oven to 350 F.
3. Lightly grease a baking sheet or use parchment paper.
4. On lightly floured surface, roll dough, one half at a time, to 1/3-inch thickness. Cut with floured cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets.
5. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until edges are set.
6. Remove from cookie sheet; cool completely. Frost and decorate as desired. Makes about one dozen cookies.

Nutrition information per serving:

Makes 12 servings

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 143
Fat: 10 g
Sodium: 117 mg
Carbohydrates: 15 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sugars: 13 g
Protein: 1 g
Cholesterol: 11 g

For more healthy recipes and nutrition tips, visit Nutrition Services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.