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Assorted Halloween sugar cookies decorated with festive frosting

Halloween Sugar Cookies

These spooky Halloween sugar cookies are a fun and festive treat, perfect for any ghoulish gathering. They are easy to make and can be decorated in endless creative ways.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 180
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Royal Icing (optional)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 1/2 cup water
  • as needed food coloring various Halloween colors

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Electric mixer (optional)
  • Plastic wrap
  • Rolling pin
  • Halloween cookie cutters
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a separate bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
  3. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Baking
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
  2. Cut out Halloween shapes using cookie cutters and carefully transfer them to the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
Decorating (Optional)
  1. Once cookies are completely cooled, prepare royal icing by whisking powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth. Divide the icing into separate bowls and tint with food coloring.
  2. Decorate the cookies with the colored icing and allow them to dry completely before storing.

Notes

For extra flavor, add a touch of almond extract to the cookie dough. To prevent cookies from spreading, ensure your butter is softened but not melted. If you don't have meringue powder, you can use a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk, though it won't harden as much as royal icing.