Scary Halloween cookies are the ultimate spooky treat to bake with kids or friends this October. These creepy, buttery cookies are shaped like ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, and whatever your haunted heart desires. With a crisp bite, vivid colors, and gory icing details, these cookies aren’t just delicious—they’re downright terrifying (in the best way).
Whether you’re throwing a Halloween party or packing festive lunchbox surprises, these cookies are a surefire way to delight and spook at the same time.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🎨 Perfect for creative decorating
- 👨👩👧👦 Fun Halloween activity for kids
- 🧈 Buttery, crisp texture
- 🎉 Ideal for parties, bake sales, or trick-or-treat handouts
- 🕐 Make-ahead friendly – dough chills well
Ingredients
- 250g (9oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 250g (9oz) golden caster sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 500g (1lb 2oz) plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Red and black food coloring (optional, for spooky dough)
- Halloween-themed cookie cutters
- Red, white, and black writing icing
- 200g (7oz) ready-to-roll white fondant icing
- 1 tbsp apricot jam, warmed with 1 tsp water
Instructions
- Cream butter & sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with the golden caster sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs & vanilla: Mix in the beaten eggs and vanilla extract. If you’re adding food coloring, do so now for eerie effects.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together flour and baking powder. Gradually stir this into the wet ingredients until a dough forms.
- Chill the dough: Divide dough into two, wrap in cling film, and chill for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 170°C (325°F / Gas 3). Line two baking trays with parchment paper.
- Roll & cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 0.5cm (¼ in) thickness. Use Halloween cutters for shapes—think bats, skulls, or broken gingerbread men!
- Bake: Arrange cookies on the trays with spacing. Bake for 12–15 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool & decorate: Let cookies cool on tray for 10 mins, then transfer to wire rack. Use writing icing and fondant to make skeletons, mummies, or “bloody” edges.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (including chilling)
- Cook Time: 12–15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Servings: Makes about 20 cookies
- Skill Level: Easy
- Dietary: Vegetarian, nut-free
Nutrition Facts (approximate, per cookie)
- Calories: 160
- Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Sugar: 10g
- Protein: 2g
Tips & Variations
- 🎨 Color chaos: Swirl red and black dough together for a marbled horror effect.
- ❄️ Make-ahead: Dough can be made up to 3 days ahead or frozen for 1 month.
- 🧁 Icing alternatives: Use melted chocolate or colored sprinkles instead of fondant.
- 🍪 No cutters? Use a glass rim or shape by hand into creepy blobs.
Scary Halloween Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Rolling Pin
- – Cookie cutters
- – Baking trays
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- – 250g unsalted butter softened
- – 250g golden caster sugar
- – 2 large eggs
- – ½ tsp vanilla extract
- – 500g plain flour
- – 1 tsp baking powder
- – Food coloring red, black – optional
- – Halloween cookie cutters
- – Writing icing red, white, black
- – 200g fondant icing
- – 1 tbsp apricot jam warmed
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy
- Add eggs, vanilla, and food coloring
- Mix in flour and baking powder
- Form dough, chill for 1 hour
- Preheat oven to 170°C / 325°F
- Roll out dough and cut spooky shapes
- Bake for 12–15 mins, then cool
- Decorate with icing and fondant
Notes
– Use fondant for mummy/skeleton details
– Food coloring adds a dramatic touch
FAQs
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes! Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
How long do they last?
Stored in an airtight container, they stay fresh for 5–7 days.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Add ½ tsp xanthan gum if your mix doesn’t include it.
Conclusion
These Scary Halloween cookies are a devilishly delightful addition to any spooky celebration. Whether you’re making them with your kids or for a haunted bash, they’re equal parts creepy and tasty.