Cakes are great, pies are good, anything gooey and sweet is fantastic. But cookies? So underrated. Cookies are, in my opinion, the best way to end a party. Put a big plate of cookies out at the end of a party and people will eat them up! I made these Mexican Chocolate Icebox cookies the first time a couple years ago, and they’ve been the sleeper hit in my repertoire.

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 t ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t cayenne
• 1/4 t salt
• 1/4 t freshly ground black pepper
• 12 T (1 1/2 sticks) butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg

PREPARATION:
Sift together the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, cayenne, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in vanilla extract and egg. Gradually add flour mixture until dough is uniform in color and no unmixed flour remains.

Shape into two 9” logs and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Make sure the wrap is airtight. Freeze overnight. The dough will keep up to six weeks in the freezer.

When ready to use, preheat oven to 375F and bake for 8-10 minutes. Cookies should feel a bit firm at the edges. Store in an airtight container when cool.

Be sure to check out our other Cinco de Mayo recipes!