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Halloween sugar cookies are a classic sugar cookie recipe that’s easy to make because they are rolled in sugar before baking.
You don’t chill the dough or use cookie cutters for this drop sugar cookie recipe. Roll the cookies in orange and black sanding sugar for a Halloween dessert!
If you’re looking for other types of sugar cookies, try these cut out sugar cookies or frosted halloween sugar cookies.
What Type of Sprinkles To Use
Use orange or black sanding sugar or other halloween sprinkles to make this fun Halloween dessert! You can typically find orange and black sanding sugar at Michaels.
Ingredients
- all purpose flour: flour is necessary to build structure in cookies
- cornstarch: gives the cookies an ultra soft texture because it makes the crumb more delicate. Adding cornstarch also helps keep the cookies from browning.
- baking soda: helps to leaven and lift the dough, affects browning and flavor
- salt: enhances the other flavors in the cookies
- unsalted butter: adds flavor and tender texture
- granulated sugar: adds sweetness, flavor and encourages browning
- egg: binds the ingredients together
- vanilla and almond extract: adds good flavor, don’t skip the almond extract!
- orange and black sanding sugar
How To Make Sugar Cookies
- In a small mixing bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar, with an electric mixer. Add in the egg and extracts, beat again to combine.
- Gradually add in the dry ingredients, mixing on low or by hand with a spatula.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. Place 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl for rolling the cookies. Use a cookie scoop to form balls. Roll each ball in the sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a silicone lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes.
Baking Time Suggestions
For the cookies in the photos, the dough balls were about 3 heaping tablespoons, so that’s a large cookie! I baked those for 12-14 minutes.
If you make smaller dough balls, you should reduce the baking time otherwise the cookies will be over done.
Total Time Required
- 15 minutes to make the cookie dough
- 12-14 minutes to bake
- 15 minutes to cool
How to Store Cookies
Store drop sugar cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.
How to Freeze Sugar Cookie Dough
- Form the dough balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with silicone mat. You can place the dough balls close together since you won’t be baking them.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the cookies are frozen solid, about 1 hour.
- Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the frozen cookie dough balls to a ziplock freezer bag. Label the bag with baking directions.
- Freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months.
- To bake: remove the dough from the freezer. Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. Roll the balls in sugar and bake for 12-14 minutes. Frozen cookies may need to bake for 1-2 minutes longer than non frozen cookies.
Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
I have made these cookies multiple times with King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour with great success.
How To Properly Measure Flour for Cookies
- Fluff the flour with a fork
- Use a spoon to scoop the flour into your measuring cup
- Use a butter knife to level the measuring cup
Sticking the measuring cup straight into the bag of flour will result in too much flour to be packed into the cup, which can result in dry cookies.
Tips
- Properly measure the all purpose flour using the spoon and sweep method.
- Use room temperature butter for easier creaming of the butter and sugar.
- Use a cookie scoop to form cookie dough balls.
- Bake cookies on a silicone baking mat.
More Halloween Desserts
- Ghost Popcorn Balls
- Melted Witch Brownies
- Bubbling Witch’s Cauldron Brownies
- Frankenstein Pretzels
- Spider Rice Krispie Treats
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Halloween Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- ½ tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, 1 cup
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp almond extract
- Orange and black sanding sugar
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. In a small mixing bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar, with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Add in the egg and extracts, beat again to combine, 30 seconds.
- Gradually add in the dry ingredients, mixing on low or by hand with a spatula.
- Place 1/4 cup colored sugar in a bowl for rolling the cookies. I used 2 separate bowls, one with orange sugar and another with black sugar. Use a cookie scoop to form balls. Roll each ball in the sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a silicone lined baking sheet. Bake in batches as needed.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes.
These are just too cute. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I’ll be baking tomorrow. One of our neighbors grandson came over today, he told me his Nana works all the time and doesn’t have time to bake cookies right now. So, could you make me some. 🤣It’s really hard to tell a 4 year old “No.” Of course sweetie, I’ll bake some cookies up tomorrow for y’all 🤪 I wanted something simple, yet cute. And all the ingredients. This one jumped out at me🤩Thank God for you🥰
My kids loved helping make these, there were sprinkles everywhere but we created a fun memory LOL. We’ll make these again next year too!
This is a wonderful sugar cookie recipe! I had made these for my family yesterday and they all loved it! I can’t wait to make these for Halloween events next year !