Go Back

Halloween Sugar Cookies

Halloween sugar cookies are crisp-edged treats with a tender, buttery center, crafted by rolling out dough and cutting into festive shapes. Baked to a light golden hue, they serve as a perfect canvas for spooky decorations, combining simple ingredients and fun decorating techniques for a cheerful, nostalgic experience.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 24
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract high-quality
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • Pinch salt
  • Powdered sugar as needed decorating icing mix with lemon juice for spooky faces
  • As needed sprinkles and edible glitter for decoration

Equipment

  • Rolling pin
  • Cookie cutters
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack
  • Icing tips and bags

Method
 

  1. Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whip softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and smells sweet, about 3 minutes.
  2. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, beating until well combined and smooth.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Gradually add this dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring just until the dough comes together and is soft but manageable.
  4. Divide the dough into two halves, flatten each into disks, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to relax the gluten.
  5. Remove one disk from the fridge and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll out the dough until it’s about ¼ inch thick, keeping it even and smooth. Repeat with the second disk.
  6. Use Halloween-themed cookie cutters to cut out shapes, then carefully transfer the shapes onto the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, watching closely until the edges turn a light golden brown. The aroma of baked cookies should fill the kitchen.
  8. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely and set the perfect crisp edges.
  9. Decorate the cooled cookies with spooky faces and details using powdered sugar icing, adding sprinkles and edible glitter for extra sparkle. Let the decorations set for at least 30 minutes.
  10. Once decorated and the icing is fully set, display these cheerful Halloween treats and enjoy their crisp texture and playful designs.

Notes

Chill the dough thoroughly for best handling. Decorate with a variety of spooky colors and designs for a festive touch. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to a week to keep them fresh.