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Halloween Sugar Cookies

These Halloween sugar cookies are soft, tender, and slightly crisp edges, perfect for decorating with spooky designs. The dough is easy to handle and forgiving, making them ideal for creating fun shapes like faces and pumpkins. Once baked and decorated, they have an appealing golden color with a slightly glossy finish, ready for spooky embellishments.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 24
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

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

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Rolling pin
  • Cookie cutters
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Icing spatula

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and has turned a pale yellow, about 2-3 minutes. You should hear a gentle whir and see the color brighten.
  2. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the bowl and continue mixing until well combined, about 30 seconds. The mixture will look smooth and slightly glossy.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough begins to come together and no streaks of flour remain. The dough will look soft but manageable.
  4. Divide the dough in half, shape each portion into a flat disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This relaxes the gluten and makes the dough easier to roll out.
  5. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  6. Remove one dough disk from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness, applying even pressure and turning the dough as you roll to maintain a uniform thickness. The dough should feel firm but pliable, and be about the size of your cookie cutter.
  7. Use Halloween-themed cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the dough. Carefully transfer the cutouts to your prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow for spreading.
  8. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven until the edges are golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them to prevent over-baking or burning the edges. The cookies should be firm around the edges but still soft in the center.
  9. Once baked, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. The edges will crisp up slightly as they cool, making them perfect for decorating.
  10. Decorate the cooled cookies with icing, sprinkles, or edible markers to create spooky Halloween faces, pumpkins, or other fun designs. Let any decorated cookies set for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

For best results, chill the dough thoroughly and handle it gently when rolling out. Use a variety of cookie cutters for a festive display. Decorate with royal icing or colored icing for a professional look.