Ingredients
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 cups confectioners' sugar
4 teaspoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Black gummy raspberries and black licorice laces, for decorating
Preparation
Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat butter with granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla; beat to combine.
Reduce speed to low and add half of flour mixture, then buttermilk, then remaining flour mixture, beating until just combined. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop dough into 1 1/2-inch balls; place on parchment-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake, rotating halfway through, until bottoms are golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets.
Meanwhile, in another small bowl, whisk together 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until mixture forms a loose but pipeable glaze. Transfer half of mixture to a resealable plastic bag; snip a small hole in one corner.
In another bowl, whisk together remaining 1 cup confectioners’ sugar and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until mixture forms a loose but pipeable glaze. Transfer half to another resealable bag; snip a small hole in one corner.
Working with a few cookies at a time, dip flat sides into remaining icing in bowls (some chocolate, some white), allowing excess to drip off. Transfer, flat-sides up, to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet.
While glaze is still wet, pipe rings with alternate-color icings, starting in center and working your way to edges of cookies. Drag a toothpick from centers outward in 1/2-inch increments to create spider-web patterns. Place a raspberry candy on each cookie and decorate with licorice-lace legs, pressing into glaze to adhere.
