Description
These Easy Halloween Cut Out Cookies are a buttery, crisp sugar cookie perfect for Halloween decorating. They hold their shape well and are ideal for making festive shapes like ghosts, pumpkins, and bats.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/2 tsp almond extract
- Royal icing or colored frosting, for decorating
- Food coloring, sprinkles, candy eyes, or sanding sugar
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using).
- Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to 1/4 inch thickness.
- Cut out shapes using Halloween cookie cutters and place on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn golden.
- Cool cookies on baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate cooled cookies with royal icing, sprinkles, or other toppings as desired.
Notes
Chill the dough thoroughly to help cookies maintain their shape.Use gel food coloring for vibrant icing colors without thinning the texture.Cookies can be frozen before or after baking for future use.Almond extract adds a subtle flavor boost but is optional.Place parchment between layers if stacking decorated cookies for storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
