Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These Halloween Cookies are an adorable and festive treat for fall! The vegan dough is soft, slightly sweet, and easy to work with, making it perfect for cookie cutters. Once baked, the cookies are transformed with colorful royal icing, sprinkles, and candy eyes, making them a fun project for Halloween celebrations. They’re not only vegan-friendly but also customizable, so you can create all sorts of spooky shapes and designs. Plus, they’re a great way to involve the whole family in the Halloween festivities!
Ingredients
- For the Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup unsalted vegan butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 2.5 tbsp water)
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- For the Decorations:
- Gel food coloring (orange, black, green, purple)
- Royal icing or vegan frosting
- Halloween-themed sprinkles and candy eyes
- Optional: melted dark chocolate for piping
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
1. Make the Dough
- In a large bowl, cream together the vegan butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the flax egg and vanilla extract, and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually combine the wet and dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
2. Chill and Roll
- Shape the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic, and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- After chilling, roll out the dough to about ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Use Halloween-themed cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes like pumpkins, ghosts, bats, and more!
3. Bake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the cookie shapes on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Let the cookies cool on a wire rack.
4. Decorate
- Divide the royal icing or vegan frosting into small bowls and tint each with your choice of gel food coloring (orange, black, green, and purple work great for Halloween!).
- Once the cookies are completely cooled, pipe spooky designs with the colored icing, such as jack-o’-lantern faces, spider webs, or ghost shapes.
- While the icing is still wet, sprinkle Halloween-themed sprinkles or add candy eyes to give your cookies extra flair.
- If desired, pipe melted dark chocolate on top for additional decoration.
5. Serve and Enjoy
- Allow the decorated cookies to fully set before serving or storing. The icing will harden as it cools, making it easier to handle.
- Store your Halloween cookies in a single layer or between parchment sheets to keep them fresh.
Servings and Timing
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 8–10 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
Variations
- Spicy Twist: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger to the dough for a cozy fall twist.
- Gluten-Free: You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies gluten-free.
- Different Shapes: Use different cookie cutters to create unique shapes, such as bats, witches’ hats, or haunted houses.
- Frosting Colors: Get creative with the colors for your royal icing. Use red, yellow, or white for different Halloween effects, or create multi-colored designs.
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Since these cookies are decorated, it’s best to enjoy them at room temperature. If needed, you can warm them in the microwave for a few seconds (but be careful not to melt the icing).
FAQs
1. Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the dough ahead of time and chill it overnight. You can also bake the cookies a day before decorating.
2. How can I make the royal icing thicker?
If your royal icing is too runny, add a little more powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.
3. Can I use a different sweetener for the dough?
Yes, you can substitute granulated sugar with coconut sugar or a granulated sweetener of your choice. The texture and taste might vary slightly, but it will still work well.
4. Can I decorate the cookies with fondant?
Yes! If you prefer fondant decorations, you can roll out fondant and cut it into shapes for your cookies instead of using royal icing.
5. What other Halloween decorations can I use?
In addition to sprinkles and candy eyes, you can use edible glitter, chocolate chips, or candy melts to decorate your cookies with fun designs.
6. Can I freeze these cookies?
Yes, you can freeze the unbaked cookie dough. Roll the dough into discs, wrap in plastic, and freeze for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator before rolling and baking.
7. How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking?
Make sure to chill the dough before rolling it out. This helps the cookies keep their shape while baking.
8. Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, you can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make these cookies gluten-free. Just make sure the rest of the ingredients are also gluten-free.
9. Can I use a different flavor for the cookies?
Yes, you can substitute the vanilla extract with almond extract or even orange extract for a fun twist that pairs well with Halloween themes.
10. How do I pipe designs on the cookies?
You can use a piping bag with a fine tip for intricate designs. If you don’t have a piping bag, a plastic sandwich bag with the corner cut off works as a simple alternative.
Conclusion
These Halloween Cookies are the perfect combination of spooky and delicious! With their adorable designs, buttery vegan dough, and fun decorations, they’re sure to be a hit at any Halloween gathering. Whether you’re baking with kids, hosting a party, or looking for a fun gift, these cookies are a creative way to celebrate the season. Enjoy the festive fun, and have a spooky Halloween!
Halloween Cookies: Cute, Creative, and Delicious Treats for Fall
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 8–10 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Halloween Cookies are fun, creative, and vegan-friendly treats for the spooky season! With a buttery dough and colorful royal icing, they are perfect for Halloween parties, gifts, or just a fun baking activity with family.
Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough:
1 cup unsalted vegan butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 2.5 tbsp water)
1½ tsp vanilla extract
2¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
For the Decorations:
Gel food coloring (orange, black, green, purple)
Royal icing or vegan frosting
Halloween-themed sprinkles and candy eyes
Optional: melted dark chocolate for piping
Instructions
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the vegan butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flax egg and vanilla extract, and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually combine the wet and dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
- Chill and Roll: Shape the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic, and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. After chilling, roll out the dough to about ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use Halloween-themed cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes like pumpkins, ghosts, bats, and more!
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cookie shapes on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack.
- Decorate: Divide the royal icing or vegan frosting into small bowls and tint each with your choice of gel food coloring. Once the cookies are completely cooled, pipe spooky designs with the colored icing, such as jack-o’-lantern faces, spider webs, or ghost shapes. While the icing is still wet, sprinkle Halloween-themed sprinkles or add candy eyes. Optionally, pipe melted dark chocolate on top for additional decoration.
- Serve and Enjoy: Allow the decorated cookies to fully set before serving or storing. The icing will harden as it cools, making it easier to handle. Store your Halloween cookies in a single layer or between parchment sheets to keep them fresh.
Notes
Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger to the dough for a cozy fall twist.
Use a gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies gluten-free.
Get creative with the shapes! Use different cookie cutters like bats, witches’ hats, or haunted houses.
Use a piping bag for intricate designs, or a sandwich bag with the corner cut off as an alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
