This post may contain affiliate links which means I will get a commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure for details.
These delicious Halloween cookies are way more fun than candy. They’re kid-friendly, party-ready, and the perfect treat to bake and share this spooky season.
It’s raining cats and ghosts!
Sweet, soft, and dressed up for Halloween, these cut-out sugar cookies deserve a spot on your fall baking list.
You only need a few simple ingredients, and kids can help from start to finish. That’s how easy this recipe is!
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox!
Looking to add to your easy Halloween food list for 2025? You’ll love our Halloween pizza and brownies!
Why You’ll Love This Halloween Cookies Recipe
- Festive, simple, and shareable, these cookies are the ultimate Halloween party food.
- Since these Halloween sugar cookies are easy to prepare ahead, you’ll have more time for other spooky treats.
- With plenty of shapes and decorations to try, this cookie recipe makes a fun Halloween activity for kids who are over pumpkin carving or are too young for complicated fall baking recipes!
Ingredients
Unsalted butter – For richness and tenderness.
Granulated sugar – For sweetness.
Eggs – To help bind everything together.
Salt and vanilla extract – They balance and bring out the sweet flavors of this Halloween cookie inspiration even more.
Baking soda – To help the Halloween cookies rise.
All-purpose flour – For structure. We haven’t tested this Halloween cookie recipe with other types of flour.
White cookie icing and black cookie icing – Icing is more than a decoration. It also adds a delicious layer of flavor and texture to the sugar cookies!
Feel free to use homemade royal icing and different piping tips.
Black decorating sugar and black edible marker – Just like in other Halloween cookie recipes, the decorating ingredients are up to you! Let your creativity shine and take inspiration from your cookie shapes.
Ingredient Substitutions For Halloween Sugar Cookies
Buttercream frosting
We used cookie icing for convenience, but you can decorate these Halloween food treats with any frosting or icing. You can use gel food coloring to tint a sweet and creamy buttercream made from unsalted butter, confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt!
Candies
This fun Halloween food recipe is perfect for Halloween baking with kids! Prepare different colored sweets, like candy eyeballs, Halloween sprinkles, Halloween M&Ms, and spiders made from Hershey’s Kisses, so everyone can come up with unique Halloween designs.
Almond extract
Halloween desserts should be more than just spooky and creative. Add depth to your Halloween cookie recipes with a hint of almond extract!
Tips For Making This Recipe
Measure the Flour Correctly
Use the spoon and level method to measure your flour accurately. Using too much flour leads to dry, bland, and tough cookies.
Do Not Overbake
You can check on the Halloween cookies after 10 minutes in case your oven is hotter than it claims to be. If your oven has hot spots, you also want to rotate the baking sheet halfway through the cook time to ensure even cooking.
Chill the Dough
Cold dough is non-negotiable for this spooky Halloween cookies recipe. Otherwise, the cookies may overspread. Chilling the dough also makes it easier to cut into shapes!
Cookies for Halloween Recipe FAQs
Why did my Halloween cookies turn out dry and crumbly?
These spooky treats will turn out dry and crumbly if you add too much flour to the dough. For accurate cup measurements, spoon the flour into the measuring cup rather than using the cup to scoop the flour.
How to keep Halloween sugar cookies soft?
When you store these easy Halloween cookies, add a piece of fresh white bread to the airtight container. The resulting humid environment will keep your cookies from getting stale!
How long do Halloween fall cookies last?
You can keep these fall snacks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, refrigerate the spooky sugar cookie designs for up to 10 days.
Can Halloween cookies be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can make these Halloween cookie designs in advance. Try this timeline: prep the dough the night before, bake the cookies and store them in an airtight container on the counter, then decorate them the next day.
Can you put Halloween cookies in the freezer?
Yes, these cookies for Halloween are freezer-friendly! Both plain and decorated Halloween sugar cookies can be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. You can stack them with parchment paper between the layers and thaw in the fridge before serving.
More Delicious Halloween Treats
- Halloween Jello Shots
- Graveyard Pudding Cups
- Oreo Bat Halloween Cupcakes
- Monster Pretzels
- Pumpkin Snack Board
I found this recipe for Creepy Halloween Skull Cupcakes that I HAVE to try!
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below.
Halloween Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- Pinch salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- White cookie icing
- Black cookie icing
- Black decorating sugar
- Black edible marker
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Beat the butter and sugar on medium speed for about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Scrape the sides and add in the eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined.
- Add the salt, baking soda, and vanilla extract and beat to combine.
- Gradually add in the flour and beat until a smooth dough forms.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate the cookie dough for 1 hour, preferably overnight.
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
- Use Halloween-themed cookie cutters to cut the dough into ghost and cat shapes. Transfer them to the lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 15 minutes to prevent them from spreading.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 11 minutes or until the edges are just starting to brown.
- Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
- Outline and fill the cat cookies with black icing. Cover with black sugar while still wet, then tap off the excess.
- Outline and fill the ghost cookies with white icing. Once the icing is dry, after around 4 hours, use an edible food marker to draw on the faces.
- Make sure the icing on the cookies has set before serving or storing your Halloween cookies.
Notes
- Use the spoon and level method to measure your flour accurately. Using too much flour leads to dry, bland, and tough cookies.
- You can check on the Halloween cookies after 10 minutes in case your oven is hotter than it claims to be. If your oven has hot spots, you also want to rotate the baking sheet halfway through the cook time to ensure even cooking.
- Cold dough is non-negotiable for this spooky Halloween cookies recipe. Otherwise, the cookies may overspread. Chilling the dough also makes it easier to cut into shapes!
Nutrition
PIN FOR LATER!
