CHOCOLATE SKELETON COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter, shortening and sugar together.
• Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
• Add baking powder and salt and mix again.
• Stir in the cocoa until well blended.
• Add flour 1 cup at a time.
• ** IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE COOKIES RIGHT AWAY, ADD 3 1/2 cups flour. If you are going to "chill" the dough, or just wait for another day to make your cookies, STOP AT 3 cups.
• Roll out on lightly floured surface to 3/8 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters.
• Bake at 375 F for 6 1/2 minutes. Let cool completely before removing from cookie sheet.
• Using a #2 tip, pipe white frosting in skeleton patterns.
• Let frosting dry 24 hours before stacking.