Martha Stewart's Espresso Shortbread Headstones

Queen Dana's Note:

This goes along with her graveyard cake. From Halloween 2004.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 12 cookies

• 2 cups all-purpose flour , plus more for dusting
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon finely ground espresso
• 8 ounces unsalted butter , softened
• 2⁄3; cup confectioners' sugar (sifted, then measured)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 ounces semisweet chocolate , chopped

Directions:

1. Whisk together flour, salt, and espresso in a large bowl; set aside.
2. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Beat in flour mixture. Transfer dough to plastic wrap. Flatten into a disk; wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Photocopy the template on this page, and cut it out. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Using template and a paring knife, cut dough into 12 headstones. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
4. Bake cookies until set but not browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely.
5. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Let stand until cool but not stiff. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a very small plain round tip, such as an Ateco #2, or to a parchment-paper cone. Pipe desired design on cookies.