🖋️ Written by Emma
If your kitchen turns into a mini art studio every Halloween, these Easy Halloween Cookie Recipes are your next creative project. Imagine trays of soft sugar cookies transformed into spider webs, ghosts, and playful black cats — each one a little edible masterpiece. Whether you’re baking with kids or prepping for a spooky party, these cookies are as fun to decorate as they are to eat.
Set up a decorating station with bowls of colorful icing, edible glitter, and candy eyes, then let the imagination run wild. It’s the perfect family activity to get everyone into the Halloween spirit — and to fill your home with the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies.
Looking for more ways to wow your guests? Pair these cookies with our Quick & Easy Halloween Party Food for a full spooky spread, or display them on our festive Halloween Charcuterie Board.
Table of Contents
Easy Halloween Cookie Recipes
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract, mixing well.
- Gradually add dry ingredients, alternating with milk, until dough forms.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into Halloween shapes using cookie cutters.
- Place cookies on prepared sheets and bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are set. Cool completely.
- Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make icing. Divide into bowls and tint with food coloring.
- Pipe or spread icing onto cooled cookies. Add candy eyes, sprinkles, or edible glitter before icing sets.
Notes
How to Make Easy Halloween Cookies
Ingredients for the Sugar Cookies:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp almond extract (optional)
- 3 tbsp milk
Ingredients for the Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3–4 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Food coloring (orange, black, purple, green)
- Candy eyes, sprinkles, edible glitter
Steps to Prepare:
- Make the Cookies:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract, then mix.
Gradually add dry ingredients, alternating with milk, until dough forms. - Shape & Bake:
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Cut out shapes with Halloween-themed cookie cutters (cats, bats, pumpkins).
Place on baking sheets and bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are set. Cool completely. - Decorate:
Mix icing ingredients until smooth, then divide into bowls and tint with food coloring.
Pipe or spread designs onto cookies. Add candy eyes, sprinkles, or edible glitter before icing sets.
Tips for the Best Halloween Cookies
- Chill dough for 30 minutes before rolling to prevent spreading.
- Use piping bags for clean, detailed designs.
- Let icing dry completely before stacking cookies.
Serving Suggestions
- Arrange on a tiered tray for a dessert table.
- Wrap individually in treat bags for trick-or-treaters.
- Add to your Halloween Charcuterie Board for variety.
FAQs – Easy Halloween Cookie Recipes
Which cookie is the easiest to make?
Drop cookies, like classic chocolate chip, are the easiest because you simply mix the dough and drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet.
What do I need to make Halloween cookies?
Basic cookie ingredients such as flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and baking powder, plus Halloween-themed cookie cutters and colored icing.
What are the easiest types of cookies to make?
Drop cookies, bar cookies, and no-bake cookies are some of the simplest types to prepare.
What are the 10 most popular homemade cookies?
Popular choices include chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, shortbread, gingerbread, molasses cookies, thumbprint cookies, and double chocolate cookies.
What is the #1 selling cookie?
Oreo cookies are widely recognized as the top-selling cookie brand in the world.
What is the oldest type of cookie?
Gingerbread is considered one of the oldest known cookie types, with origins dating back to medieval Europe.
What to bake on Halloween?
Halloween-themed cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and pumpkin bread are festive and fun options.
What is a spooky cookie kit?
A spooky cookie kit is a set that includes pre-baked cookies, icing, sprinkles, and decorations to make Halloween-themed treats at home.
How long to bake Halloween cookies?
Most Halloween cookies bake for 8–12 minutes at around 350°F (175°C), depending on the recipe and cookie size.
What are 5 basic types of cookies?
The five basic types are drop cookies, bar cookies, rolled cookies, molded cookies, and pressed cookies.
What are easy things to bake?
Easy baking ideas include cookies, muffins, banana bread, brownies, and cupcakes.
What is the secret to the best cookies?
Using quality ingredients, measuring accurately, not overmixing, chilling the dough, and not overbaking are key to perfect cookies.
Conclusion
These Easy Halloween Cookie Recipes are more than just treats — they’re a fun, hands-on Halloween tradition. Soft, buttery cookies topped with spooky icing are guaranteed to bring smiles (and maybe a few playful scares).
For more festive ideas, check out our Easy Halloween Dessert Recipes for Kids and follow @whattomaketoday on Pinterest.
