Spider Chocolate Chip Cookies

My kids love these cookies so we make these every year.  I normally use “canned” frosting, but this year I used a 2 ingredient chocolate pumpkin frosting.  Feel free to decorate these any way you want.

Ingredients-

Chocolate Chip Cookies-

2 ½ cups all purpose flour

2 scoops chocolate protein powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup sugar

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

2 large eggs

3 cups chocolate chips (milk chocolate, semi-sweet, and dark chocolate)

Decorations-

Candy eyes

Mini M&Ms

Pretzel sticks 4 per cookie cut in half

Frosting-

1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree

10 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions-

Cookies-

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cream butter and sugars by mixing on medium in a strand mixer with a paddle attachment.
3. Add eggs and vanilla extract.
4. Add flour, protein powder, baking soda, and salt to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
5. Add flour mixture to stand mixer one cup at a time scraping down the sides as needed.
6. Add the chocolate chips and mix on low to just combine.
7. Use a tablespoon size cookie scoop to form balls.  Use a spatula to slightly flatten/smush down the balls before baking.
8. Bake 7-8 minutes.  Let cookies sit on cookie sheet at least 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Chocolate Pumpkin Frosting

1. Add pumpkin puree to a medium saucepan.  Cook on medium for 5-7 minutes stirring often until it begins to bubble and darkens slightly.
2. Remove from heat.  Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Let cool at least 10 minutes before using.

Assembly

1. Flip over cookies so the flat side is up.  Spread a layer of frosting on the cookies. 
2. Press the 4 pretzel legs down on each side. Press another cookie on top.
3. Transfer some frosting to an icing bag or tool.  Use a round tip to make dots to place the candy eyes on each spider. 
4. Use the frosting to pipe a mouth.  Then cover the mouth with mini M&Ms. 
5. Enjoy!