Chocolate Cookie Pine Cones

It's almost Christmas and school's out. I've already caught up on The Mindy Project and watched 1000 youtube videos. I've been in PJs all day and my mane is looking like Lion King's.  'Tis the life! I'm about to board the plane in 5 hours back to LA. Apparently, the forecast is going to be warm and sunny (what else do you expect?). Yay! So excited to eat some home cooking and get me some daily pampering from mum.

I've been baking up a storm, now that I have time, and decided to get a little creative. I did spend too much time on pinterest while I was studying for the final exam :P but at least that time was well spent (maybe?). Here are some cookie sculptures to get you in that christmas spirit :)

Happy happy holidays and I hope your Christmas is filled with warmth, laughter and lots of hot chocolate xoxo

Chocolate Cookie Pine Cones

1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

3 Candy canes
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup nutella
1 tbsp butter, softened

1. In a medium bowl, mix dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, salt). Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then beat in the egg and vanilla. Mix the butter mix and dry ingredients together until it forms a soft dough. Roll between 2 sheets of wax paper to 1/4 inch and refrigerate it for at least 2 hrs
2. Preheat oven to 360F, roll the chilled dough thinner to 1/4". Make a grid to make 1/2x1/2" squares. Lay them out on a lined baking tray. Doesn't have to be that spread apart because they won't expand much
3. Bake for 6-9 mins and let cool. They will harden as they cool.
4. Mix the "glue": powdered sugar and peanut butter, Nutella and butter together and refrigerate for about 10 minutes
5. Cut candy cane to about 3" tall. Put the glue all over it and stick on the cookies. It helps to create a base on the bottom so it stands and then scoop more glue and add the cookies. Add them more upright as you go along the "spine". You can cut the cookies smaller as you go to the top too. 
6. Dust with powdered sugar!