No Spread Chocolate Cut Out Cookies

I absolutely love cut out cookies for the holidays! The last longer through the season when you decorate them, which is perfect for gifting. They are great for pretty much any occasion, but there’s no doubt that Christmas is the top spot on the list. I already have two great options for vanilla cutout cookies – my original cutout sugar cookies and my newer soft and chewy cut out cookies. But it was time for some chocolate to change it up! I married the second of those two cut out cookies with my recipe for chocolate sugar cookies that are drop-style and came up with this amazing recipe.

Why You’ll Love These Cookies

• Soft & chewy. This recipe makes thick, tender cookies have that perfect soft and chewy texture. Exactly what I want from any sugar cookie.
• Quick & easy. The dough takes just a few minutes to prepare and they bake up in 8-12 minutes. I do recommend at least an hour of chill time, to make the cookie dough easier to roll and cut, or you can even make the dough up to 3 days in advance.
• Perfect for decorating. I’ve included lots of decorating ideas below and there are endless ways to decorate these cookies. Not to mention decorating them is a fun way to get kids involved in the kitchen!

If you love the flavors in this cannoli-inspired dessert, check out this amazing cannoli cheesecake and my cannoli layer cake, too!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Like a cannoli, but easier. This dessert delivers all of the flavor of a classic cannoli with none of the deep frying or painstaking stuffing of individual pastry shells.
• Light, delicious flavor. Some cannolis can be overly sweet and kind of heavy. This tart is light and not to sweet. Perfect for any occasion.
• No-bake (almost). Aside from baking the crust for a few minutes to make sure it holds together, this dessert is totally no-bake. Perfect for warm summer days when you want to keep your kitchen as cool as possible.
• Outstanding texture. The mascarpone filling for this cannoli dessert is so smooth and creamy, a bit like my stabilized mascarpone whipped cream. Next to the subtle crunch of the graham cracker crust and the smattering of mini chocolate chips on top, it’s a dream to bite into.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I love baking with yummy fresh strawberries this time of year. It’s one of my very favorite fruits and there are so many great ways to enjoy them. This strawberry bread is a new favorite for it’s simplicity, ease and wonderful taste. Here’s a few reasons you have to try it.

• Real strawberry flavor. Between the bread itself and the creamy strawberry glaze on top of it, all of the strawberry flavor in this loaf comes from real, fresh fruit. It’s the perfect way to celebrate summer berries.
• Super easy. This recipe is great for any skill level. With a simple mixing method, the batter comes together in minutes, and the glaze is even quicker and easier.
• Anytime, anywhere. This strawberry bread isn’t overly sweet, but it IS sweet, making it perfect for breakfast or dessert (depending on the mood). Enjoy it at home or bring it along to your next brunch or summer cookout. It makes for great sharing (or gifting!).

The Best No Bake Berry Icebox Cake

I’m always looking for cool, easy treats to enjoy during the summertime – especially ones that don’t require any cooking or baking. This fruity icebox cake is one of my favorites! Fresh berries combine with sweet golden Oreo cookies and creamy cheesecake pudding in a simple, refreshing dessert that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

When I first created this masterpiece for Memorial Day some time ago, my relatives were skeptical. They weren’t familiar with icebox cakes and the combination seemed odd. However, the skeptics ended up becoming the cake’s biggest fans. They asked me for the recipe and have been making it themselves ever since! You truly have to try it!