Chocolate Cut Out Cookies

1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
4 tbsp. cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
Combine salt, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and flour in a small bowl. Set aside. In a larger bowl, cream butter. Mix in sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in a egg and add vanilla. Stir the flour mixture into the butter until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough into two portions. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap and let sit in a fridge until firm -- about an hour or so. Preheat over to 325 degrees. Roll out the dough on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin until it is 1/4" thick. Cut cookies with cookie cutter and transfer to baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly on sheet and then transfer to a rack to cool completely. While the cookies are cooling, make the icing.

Royal Icing
1 1/3 c. icing sugar
1 egg white
food colouring
Beat egg white until frothy. Add in 2/3 c. icing sugar. Heat in the microwave until the icing reaches 160 degrees on a thermometer. Then stir until another 2/3 c. icing sugar until the icing forms soft peaks. Add food colouring and use to decorate cookies.