Spooky Halloween Cookies

Author: Mila Stevens Published: 12/17/2025

Our Spooky Halloween Cookies are such a joy to bake and even more delightful to eat. They’re the perfect spooky sweet for your upcoming Halloween party, a family night in, or any festive gathering. Trust me, these cookies will have everyone grinning kids, adults, and all the little ghouls in between. If you’re ready for a baking project that’s both playful and delicious, you’ve come to the right place!

Why You’ll Absolutely Love Baking These Halloween Cookies

First off cookies! Who can resist? Add a Halloween twist, and you’ve got a total win. These cookies have the perfect mix of sweet and spooky, making them a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at any Halloween event. Whether it’s a big bash or just a cozy night baking with the family, these treats bring the fun and flavor. Plus, they’re vegetarian, so everyone at your party can enjoy the sweets without worry.
Get everyone in on the fun! Kids especially love helping out, whether it’s rolling dough, cutting fun shapes, or decorating with candy eyes and Halloween sprinkles. Don’t be afraid of the mess it’s where some of the best memories are made. I always catch myself laughing and sharing stories with my kids as we bake together.
Want to share the Halloween cheer? These cookies wrapped in a cute box or tied up with a festive ribbon make the sweetest homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, or friends. You really can’t beat a personal touch during the spooky season!

Ingredients You’ll Need to Get Started

Everything you see here comes together to make these spooky Halloween cookies just right.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making the Best Spooky Halloween Cookies

¾ cup Sugar
¾ cup + 2 tbsp Unsalted butter softened
1 Egg yolk
2 tsp Vanilla extract
1¾ cups + 2 tbsp All-purpose flour

For the Decoration

1 cup Confectioners sugar
6 tbsp Water
3 tsp Black food grade coloring
1 cup White vegetarian mini marshmallows

Getting the Basics Right

Start by creaming together the sugar and the softened unsalted butter until the mixture feels light and fluffy this step makes all the difference in texture.

Cream together sugar and butter.

Add egg yolk and vanilla extract and mix to combine.

Gently fold in the flour.

Next, add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and mix everything until combined. When it comes to the flour, gently fold it in just until the dough comes together overmixing will toughen the cookies, and nobody wants that.

Once your dough is smooth, roll it into a log, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and pop it in the fridge to chill. This step is super important because it helps your cookies keep their shape when baking.

Roll It Out, Cut Those Shapes, Repeat!

After at least two hours of chilling, it’s time for the fun part. Lightly flour your surface and roll out the dough to about an eighth of an inch thick that’s just the right thickness for these cookies!

Shape the dough into a log, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.

After the dough has rested, roll it out on a lightly floured surface.

Use a cookie cutter to cut circles.

Grab your cookie cutter and start cutting circles work best for this look, but hey, get creative!

Don’t discard the leftovers simply gather the scraps, reroll the dough, and keep cutting until there’s none left.

Baking the Cookies to Sweet Perfection

Place your cut-out cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure to leave a little space between each so they bake evenly.

Bake them for about 10 minutes at 350°F (180°C), or until you spot a subtle golden glow at the edges. Once they’re baked just right, move them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Decorating Where All the Halloween Magic Happens!

Now for the best part: decorating! Mix together confectioner’s sugar, water, and black food coloring in a bowl. You want it thick enough to spread but still easy to dollop onto your cookies.

Whisk confectioner’s sugar, water, and black food coloring.

Spread the mixture onto each cookie.

Spread about one or two tablespoons of this black icing onto each cookie, then arrange mini marshmallows around the edges to mimic creepy teeth. You only need to decorate half the cookies this way.

Place the marshmallow ‘teeth’ on the mixture.

Place a cookie on top.

Press the other half of the cookies on top of the marshmallows. Then, add a tablespoon of the icing on top to seal it all together.

Add ‘eyes’ to the marshmallows.

Add black mixture to the top of the cookie.

Place the marshmallows on top.

For the spooky finishing touch, place two marshmallows on top of the black icing and gently dot each one with more of the black mixture to create eerie eyes. I like to use a toothpick or a tiny paintbrush to get those little details just right.

And voilà enjoy your super spooky cookies that are as fun to look at as they are to eat!

Recipe Notes and Tried-and-True Tips

Butter Matters: Always reach for unsalted butter here so you control the salt level perfectly. Make sure it’s softened meaning it gives just a little when you press, but isn’t melted this ensures your dough becomes beautifully creamy.
Go Easy on Mixing: When you add the flour, mix only until everything just comes together. Overworking the dough can make your cookies tough instead of soft and crumbly. I know it’s tempting to keep going, especially if you’re using a stand mixer, but resist!
Parchment Paper is Your Pal: Instead of cooking spray, use parchment paper on your baking sheets. It helps cookies bake evenly and cleanup is a breeze. Plus, you can slide the whole sheet off to a cooling rack without worrying about breaking your masterpiece.
Measure Flour Carefully: Too much flour can weigh the dough down. Use the spoon and level method scoop the flour into your measuring cup with a spoon, then level it off with a knife instead of scooping directly from the bag.
Handle Food Coloring with Care: Black food coloring can be strong, so add a little at a time until you reach the spooky hue you want. Always pick food-grade coloring to keep things safe for the whole family.
Let Cookies Cool Before Decorating: It’s tempting to dive right in, but wait until your cookies are fully cool. This stop prevents your decorations, especially marshmallows and icing, from melting and getting messy.
No Black Food Coloring? No Problem! Feel free to swap in purple, green, or red food coloring for a different-but-still-spooky vibe. I love getting creative with colors around Halloween!
No Circle Cookie Cutters? Grab a glass or cup with the right size rim to cut out perfect circles. Or, just get inventive and cut rectangles or triangles with a knife. If you have Halloween-shaped cutters like pumpkins or bats use those for extra fun.
How Long Does Dough Last in the Fridge? You can store this dough in the fridge for up to 3 days, well wrapped so it stays fresh and moist. That helps if you want to prep ahead of time.
Try Different Cookies: Feel like switching up the base? Pumpkin chocolate chip, pumpkin oatmeal, or classic chocolate sugar cookies make excellent alternatives. Just follow the decorating steps the same way!

How to Store Leftover Halloween Cookies

If, by some miracle, you have any cookies left over, here’s how to keep them fresh and tasty.

Air-Tight Is the Way to Go

Store your cookies in an airtight container to seal in freshness and keep them from getting stale. If you decorated your cookies, just make sure the icing or candies have set fully before sealing them up.

Chill Out in the Fridge

These cookies are happy at room temperature for a few days but will last longer if refrigerated. In an airtight container in the fridge, they can keep for up to a week. Just bring them back to room temp before serving so all those flavors shine through.

Freeze for Later Celebrations

Once your cookies have fully cooled after baking, spread them on a baking sheet and freeze them until solid. Then, transfer to a zip-top bag or airtight container, layering with parchment paper to keep them separate.

When the craving hits again, pull out as many as you want, let them thaw at room temp, and decorate fresh if you like. It’s a great way to prep ahead or save some for later spooky fun!

Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Your Spooky Halloween Cookies

If you’re like me and love to go all out for Halloween, you won’t want to stop just at cookies! Here are some easy and fun ideas to make your Halloween spread extra special.

Spooky Drinks to Match

No Halloween party is complete without some spooky sips. How about a punch bowl filled with a bright red or green drink? Think cranberry juice or lime sherbet mixed for color and flavor, with floating lychee ‘eyeballs’ that look delightfully creepy.

Or if it’s chilly outside, a warm pumpkin-spiced latte is just the cozy pick-me-up to make the night feel magical.

Additional Halloween Treats to Satisfy Sweet Cravings

While the cookies steal the show, there’s always room for more treats on the table! Consider a mummy-themed Mississippi Mud Pie decorated with white chocolate strips and candy eyeballs instead of traditional toppings.

Spider chocolate truffles with pretzel legs and candy eyes are easy to make and super fun. For a healthier twist, prepare a fruit platter featuring “ghost” bananas with chocolate chip faces, mummified strawberries wrapped in phyllo, or “pumpkin” oranges with celery stalk stems cute and tasty!

Savory Snacks for Balanced Bites

It’s not all sugar on Halloween! Consider tossing in some savory options to balance things out. Mini stuffed bell peppers carved like jack-o’-lanterns make a festive, healthy snack, and deviled eggs decorated as “spiders” are always a big hit.

A cheeseboard with cheese balls and bite-sized cheese pieces shaped with cookie cutters adds a fun touch. You can even slice olives as “eyes” and place them on mini goat cheese balls to create adorable little monster bites. It’s a perfect way to be festive without going full sugar overload!