- 1 cup hazelnuts (5 ounces)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon dark rum
- Equipment: decorative cookie cutters (about 3 inches)
- Garnish:
- Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
- Toast nuts in a small baking pan in oven until centers are golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Wrap in a kitchen towel and cool to warm, then rub off any loose skins. Chop nuts.
- Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
- Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, then beat in egg and rum. At low speed, mix in flour mixture in 3 batches just until a dough forms. Stir in nuts.
- Divide dough in half and form each half into a 5-inch square. Wrap in plastic and chill until firm, at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375°F with racks in upper and lower thirds. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out 1 piece of dough between 2 sheets of parchment into an 11-to 12-inch square. Freeze on a tray until firm, about 20 minutes.
- Remove top sheet of parchment and cut out shapes with cookie cutters, arranging them 1/2 inch apart on baking sheets.
- Bake cookies, switching position and rotating sheets halfway through, until firm and tops are slightly cracked, 8 to 12 minutes total. Transfer cookies to racks to cool completely.
- Repeat with remaining dough (cool baking sheets and line with fresh parchment). Reroll scraps once for extra cookies if desired.