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Haunted House Cookies

These Haunted House Cookies are a fun and festive treat that combine rich butter, sugar, and eggs to create tender, flavorful cookies. They are shaped into spooky designs and decorated with icing for a charming, crispy texture that’s perfect for Halloween or autumn gatherings. The process involves mixing, chilling, baking, and decorating for a visually striking and delicious final product.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg or flaxseed egg for vegan
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Rolling pin
  • Cookie cutters
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire rack
  • Icing bags and tips

Method
 

  1. Combine softened butter and granulated sugar in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer or whisk until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy, about 3 minutes, releasing a sweet, buttery aroma.
  2. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and beat just until combined, ensuring a smooth, shiny texture.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a cohesive dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  4. Gather the dough into a ball, then flatten into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to relax the gluten and make it easier to roll out.
  5. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Remove the chilled dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to about 0.5 inch thick, ensuring even pressure for uniform cookies.
  6. Use spooky-shaped cookie cutters or a sharp knife to cut out haunted house and ghost shapes from the rolled dough, creating fun and festive designs.
  7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Carefully transfer the cut-out cookies onto the sheet, placing them about 2 inches apart to allow for some spreading during baking.
  8. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, watching for the edges to turn a golden brown while the centers remain tender. The aroma of baked sugar and vanilla will fill your kitchen.
  9. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on it for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps keep them crisp and prevents smudging decorations.
  10. Once cooled, decorate your haunted house and ghost cookies with icing, candies, or spooky details. Use icing bags and tips for precise designs, and let the decorations set for at least 30 minutes before handling.

Notes

Chill the dough well to prevent spreading. Decorate only after cookies are completely cooled for best results. Use a steady hand for intricate icing details.