7 Halloween Cookie Recipes You Can Bake at Home
Hey, friend! Halloween’s sneaking up like a ghost in the night, and you know what that means—time to fire up the oven and whip up some spooky cookies that scream festive fun! I’ve been baking Halloween treats for years, from creepy-cute ghosts to pumpkin-packed goodies, and nothing beats the joy of munching on homemade cookies during a scary movie night.
I’ve got 7 Halloween cookie recipes that are easy, delicious, and perfect for parties or cozy evenings. Grab your apron, and let’s make some treats that’ll haunt your taste buds in the best way possible!
1. Spooky Sugar Cookies
Cuisine: American Party Snack
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 24
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Why It Works
These sugar cookies are your Halloween canvas—cut them into ghosts, pumpkins, or bats and go wild with icing. I make these with my nieces every October, and the kitchen turns into a sugary, spooky art studio. Who doesn’t love a cookie that’s as fun to decorate as it is to eat?
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened for creamy texture.
- ¾ cup sugar for sweetness.
- 1 egg for binding.
- 2 cups flour for structure.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract for flavor.
- Royal icing (powdered sugar, egg whites, food coloring).
- Halloween sprinkles for extra spook.
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then beat in egg and vanilla.
- Mix in flour and a pinch of salt to form dough; chill for 30 minutes.
- Roll out dough, cut into spooky shapes, and bake at 350°F for 8–10 mins.
- Cool completely, then decorate with royal icing and sprinkles.
Personal Note: Last Halloween, my ghost cookies looked more like lumpy clouds, but they tasted like heaven. Pro tip: Black food coloring makes them extra eerie.
2. Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Cuisine: American Party Snack
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 20
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Total Time: 27 mins
Why It Works
These pumpkin spice cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with fall vibes. I bake them when I want my kitchen to smell like an October dream—think cozy sweaters and crisp air. Ever wondered why pumpkin spice feels like a warm hug in cookie form?
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened.
- ¾ cup brown sugar for rich flavor.
- ¼ cup pumpkin purée for moisture.
- 1 egg for structure.
- 2 cups flour for texture.
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves).
- ½ tsp baking soda for lift.
Instructions
- Cream butter, brown sugar, and pumpkin purée; add egg.
- Stir in flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and a pinch of salt.
- Scoop dough onto a baking sheet, flatten slightly.
- Bake at 375°F for 10–12 mins until golden.
Pro Tip: Dust with powdered sugar for a festive look. IMO, these are perfect with a pumpkin spice latte. 🙂
3. Chocolate Bat Cookies
Cuisine: American Party Snack
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 18
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Why It Works
These chocolate bat cookies are fudgy, rich, and shaped like spooky bats that’ll fly off the plate. I made these for a Halloween party, and they were gone faster than you can say “boo!” Why go for plain cookies when you can have these winged wonders?
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, melted.
- 1 cup sugar for sweetness.
- 1 egg for binding.
- 1 ½ cups flour for structure.
- ½ cup cocoa powder for chocolatey depth.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract for flavor.
- Candy eyes for creepy-cute bats.
Instructions
- Mix melted butter, sugar, and egg; add vanilla.
- Stir in flour, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt to form dough.
- Roll out, cut into bat shapes with a cookie cutter, and bake at 350°F for 8–10 mins.
- Press candy eyes onto warm cookies for that spooky stare.
Sarcasm Alert: Store-bought cookies wish they had this much Halloween swagger.
4. Ghost Meringue Cookies
Cuisine: American Party Snack
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 24
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins
Why It Works
These ghost meringue cookies are light, airy, and adorably spooky with their tiny chocolate chip eyes. I whip them up when I want a low-effort treat that looks like I tried hard. Ever seen a cookie this cute and creepy at the same time?
Ingredients
- 4 egg whites for fluffy texture.
- ¾ cup sugar for sweetness.
- ½ tsp cream of tartar for stability.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract for flavor.
- Mini chocolate chips for ghost eyes.
Instructions
- Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy.
- Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
- Pipe into ghost shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet, add chocolate chip eyes.
- Bake at 200°F for 1 hour, then cool in the oven.
Personal Note: My friend swore these were “too cute to eat”—then polished off a dozen. They’re that irresistible.
5. Spider Web Cookies
Cuisine: American Party Snack
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 20
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Why It Works
These spider web cookies pair rich chocolate cookies with white icing webs for maximum Halloween vibes. I made them for a kid’s party, and the little ghouls went wild. Who can resist a cookie that looks like it crawled out of a haunted house?
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened.
- ¾ cup sugar for sweetness.
- 1 egg for binding.
- 1 ½ cups flour for structure.
- ½ cup cocoa powder for flavor.
- White royal icing for spider webs.
- Plastic spider rings for spooky decor.
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar, then add egg.
- Mix in flour, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt; chill dough for 30 minutes.
- Roll out, cut into rounds, and bake at 350°F for 8–10 mins.
- Pipe white icing in spirals, drag with a toothpick for webs, and add spider rings.
Pro Tip: Use a toothpick for perfect web designs. FYI, the plastic spiders make kids squeal with delight.
6. Candy Corn Sugar Cookies
Cuisine: American Party Snack
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 24
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Why It Works
These candy corn sugar cookies mimic the iconic Halloween treat’s colors without that waxy aftertaste. I bake them for trick-or-treaters, and they’re always a hit. Why munch on candy when you can have these tri-colored beauties?
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened.
- ¾ cup sugar for sweetness.
- 1 egg for binding.
- 2 cups flour for texture.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract for flavor.
- Yellow and orange food coloring for candy corn layers.
- White icing for the tip.
Instructions
- Cream butter, sugar, and egg; add vanilla.
- Divide dough into three parts; color one yellow, one orange, leave one plain.
- Layer dough, cut into triangles, and bake at 350°F for 8–10 mins.
- Pipe white icing on the tips for that candy corn look.
Personal Note: I made these with my cousin’s kids, and they loved stacking the colors. It’s like edible arts and crafts!
7. Monster Eyeball Cookies
Cuisine: American Party Snack
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 20
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Total Time: 32 mins
Why It Works
These monster eyeball cookies are chewy, colorful, and downright creepy with their candy eyes. I baked them for a Halloween bash, and they were the star of the snack table. Ever had a cookie stare back at you? It’s weirdly awesome.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened.
- ¾ cup brown sugar for chewiness.
- 1 egg for binding.
- 1 ½ cups flour for structure.
- ½ tsp baking powder for lift.
- Green and purple food coloring for monster vibes.
- Candy eyes for that eerie look.
Instructions
- Cream butter and brown sugar, then add egg.
- Mix in flour, baking powder, and food coloring (split dough for two colors).
- Scoop dough onto a baking sheet, press candy eyes on top.
- Bake at 350°F for 10–12 mins until set.
Rhetorical Question: What’s more Halloween than a cookie giving you the side-eye? Nothing, that’s what.
FAQ: Halloween Cookie Recipes
- Can I freeze these cookies?
Yup! Sugar and chocolate cookies freeze like champs—just add icing after thawing. - Are these good for kids to make?
Totally. Kids love cutting shapes and adding candy eyes or sprinkles. - Do I need special equipment?
Nah, a rolling pin and cookie cutters are enough. No need for fancy gear. - Can I make them less sweet?
Cut the sugar by a bit or skip heavy icing for a lighter treat. - What’s the spookiest cookie?
IMO, the monster eyeballs take the cake—er, cookie—for creep factor.
Final Thoughts
These 7 Halloween cookie recipes bring all the spooky, sugary fun to your kitchen. From spooky sugar cookies to monster eyeball cookies, they’re perfect for Halloween parties, trick-or-treaters, or just chilling with a scary flick.
I’ve baked these through many a haunted season, and they always make it sweeter. So, turn on some creepy tunes, grab your baking sheet, and whip up some festive treats. Which one’s got you ready to bake? Let me know—I’m all ears! 🙂
