As October rolls in, there’s a buzz in the air as everyone gears up for Halloween. If you want to get into the Halloween spirit through baking, what better way to celebrate than by baking some Halloween cookies? This is also one of my favorite holiday snacks to make every year.
Here, I’ll share some of my favorite Halloween cookie ideas and recipes that are not only festive but also easy to make at home. These cookies are definitely a must-make for a cozy horror movie night with friends and family or for bringing along to a Halloween party!
10 Spooky Halloween Cookie Ideas
If Thanksgiving is all about roasted turkey, Halloween is all about the sweets and cookies. Ahead, you’ll find some spooky Halloween cookie ideas, including mummy cookies, candy corn cookies, and more. There are even some creepy choices like witch finger cookies and eyeball cookies that are sure to thrill the kids and satisfy adult ghouls as well.
1. Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Pumpkin cookies are always a classic treat for fall. Mix in some chocolate, chopped nuts, and cinnamon into the dough, then use pumpkin-shaped cutter to cut the dough into small pieces. After baking, decorate with orange icing and add some green icing for vines and leaves. While they might not be spooky, they definitely capture the Halloween spirit.
2. Mummy Cookies
Mummy cookies are another classic Halloween cookies. Just take some baked sugar or shortbread cookies and wrap them in strips of white fondant or frosting to create that mummy look. Then put two M&Ms or candy eyes to make them look cute and spooky.
3. Candy Corn Cookies
I’m not sure if you like candy corn, but it’s definitely one of the most iconic Halloween cookies. Layer the dough into triangles, using yellow, orange, and white to mimic the look of candy. Drizzle with melted chocolate and top and edible glitter for a special sweet treat that only comes around once a year.
4. Bone and Skull Cookies
Use a bone- or skull-shaped cookie cutter and bake some vanilla or almond cookies. Once they’re cool, decorate them with gray, white, or black frosting, highlighting the skull details and bones for a spooky treat that’s sure to catch everyone’s eye!
5. Bat Cookies
Cut the cookies using a bat-shaped cutter and dip them in dark chocolate for a tasty, crispy coating. After the crust hardens, add eyes and details with white chocolate, icing, or M&Ms. I’m sure your kids will love these cookies
6. Spider Cookies
If you love the combination of chocolate and peanuts, then spider cookies are a must-try. They start with peanut butter cookie dough and are finished with half malt balls and chocolate spiders on top. Don’t worry, they’re simpler to make than you might expect!
7. Witch Finger Cookies
Witch finger cookies are a sure-way to scare the first time you see them. Just add a few drops of green food coloring to the dough for an eerie look. Then roll the small pieces of dough into the shape of finger, and for a more realistic look, use a fork to make some indentations in the joints and place a sliced almond on the tip of the finger. After baking, finish them off with a dab of raspberry jam at the end for that extra touch of spookiness.
8. Sandwich Eyeball Cookies
You don’t need to bake for this cookie. Just take an Oreo, split it in half, and keep the half with the cream filling. Use red and green jam to create a bloody and spooky look, then pop M&Ms for pupils. If you want, you can also add a round piece of white chocolate to other half of the Oreo as the white part of the eye.
9. Halloween Sugar Cookies
Start with a classic Halloween sugar cookie recipe, then cut them out in the shape of ghosts. Once baked, decorate with white royal icing for a ghostly appearance, and use chocolate chips or mini M&Ms for eyes. These cute cookies will float right off the plate!
10. Witch Hat Cookies
These witch hats might look like decorations, but they’re totally edible. They’re actually made with a cookie base and an ice cream cone tip. As alternative, you can even place Hershey’s Kiss chocolate upside down for the hat’s tip. Then, just add some black or dark purple frosting to color them and finish with a fondant ribbon at the bottom.
How to Make Halloween Cookies?
Now that you have some creative ideas, it’s time to get baking! I will share a foolproof basic Halloween cookie recipe, and you can use the creative tips mentioned above to transform them into various kinds of fun treats.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Step 1: Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until it’s smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla, and slowly incorporate the dry ingredients.
Step 2: Split the dough into two or three portions, wrap them in plastic, and refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight, which makes the dough easier to work with later.
Step 3: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Use different Halloween cookie cutters to shape your cookies.
Step 4: Place your cookies on ungreased baking sheets and bake them for 8-10 minutes until they’re just lightly golden. Let them cook on wire racks afterward.
Step 5: After they’ve totally cooled down, it’s time to decorate and make your cookies truly spooky.
How to Store Halloween Cookies?
After Halloween, you might want to extend the festive vibe or deal with some leftover cookies. You could just leaven them at room temperature or store them in the refrigerator, but they could only last for days. Using a vacuum sealer, you can keep them fresh longer and avoid them getting tough and crumbling.
For fragile cookies, you can put them in a jar and vacuum seal them using the jar mode of the food saver. For sturdier cookies, carefully place them in a vacuum bag, separate them with baking paper to prevent sticking, and then vacuum seal them up using the regular mode.
