Trick or Treat- Noel

¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter, softened

1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 ½ tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 square (1oz) unsweetened chocolate, melted

24 mini chocolate peanut butter cups, unwrapped

1 cup prepared chocolate frosting

1 tub (4.25 oz) orange decorating icing

Using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy; beat in vanilla and cinnamon.

Stir flour into butter mixture until well blended; add melted chocolate.  Cover dough; chill for 1 hour.  (Chilling helps the dough retain its shape during baking.)

Shape 2 Tbsp dough into a flat round.  Place the peanut butter cup onto round and mold dough around it, making sure candy is covered.  Repeat with remaining dough and candy.

Place filled dough onto 2 ungreased baking sheets, 1 inch apart.  Bake at 350° until golden, about 20 minutes.  Place baking sheets on wire racks; cool for 10 minutes.  Transfer cookies to racks; cool completely. 

In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate frosting on 50% power for 5 seconds or until slightly thinned.  Using the back of a spoon, frost the top of each cookie; let frosting set. 

Using the tube of orange icing fitted with a small writing tip, create a crisscross design on top of each cookie; let icing set.