Halloween Pumpkin Cookies Recipe: Spookily Delicious Treats!

Halloween is just around the corner, and if you’re looking for a fun treat that everyone will love, these Halloween Pumpkin Cookies are perfect! These sweet, buttery sugar cookies are topped with festive orange fondant and decorated with spooky details, making them ideal for Halloween parties, trick-or-treat bags, or just enjoying with a hot mug of cider. This recipe is simple to follow, fun to decorate, and makes about 30 cookies—perfect for sharing!

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Why You’ll Love These Halloween Pumpkin Cookies

• Festive and Fun: These cookies scream Halloween spirit! Their pumpkin shape and optional jack-o-lantern faces add just the right amount of spookiness.
• Easy to Make: The simple sugar cookie dough is easy to whip up, and decorating with rolled fondant is a mess-free way to get creative with minimal effort.
• Family-Friendly: Kids will love helping out, especially with decorating, making this a great activity to share.
• Perfect for Parties: These cookies are easy to make in batches, making them a perfect addition to Halloween gatherings.

Ingredients for Halloween Pumpkin Cookies

For the Sugar Cookie Dough

• 110g (3.9 oz) slightly salted butter, cubed
• 100g (3.5 oz) white caster sugar (superfine sugar)
• 1 medium free-range egg
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 250g (8.8 oz) plain white flour (all-purpose flour)
• ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt

For Decorating the Pumpkin Cookies

• 1 tsp cornflour (cornstarch) for dusting
• 500g (1.1 lb) orange sugar paste (fondant), vegetarian if required
• 2 tbsp icing sugar (powdered sugar)
• Black writing icing for spooky faces

Equipment You’ll Need

• Weighing scales
• Measuring spoons
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Wooden spoon
• Rolling pin
• 7cm (3-inch) pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter
• Nonstick baking sheet
• Parchment/baking paper
• Wire cooling rack
• Small mixing bowl
• Small paintbrush

How to Make Halloween Pumpkin Cookies

Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Dough

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 200°C (180°C for fan-assisted ovens, or 400°F).
2. Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Whisk until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
3. Add Dry Ingredients: Sift in the flour, baking powder, salt, and bicarbonate of soda. Stir until everything is well combined, forming a clumpy dough.
4. Knead and Chill: Gather the dough, kneading only until it forms a smooth ball. Wrap it and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

2nd Step : Prepare the Fondant Toppers

1. Roll Out the Fondant: On a clean, lightly dusted surface, roll out the orange fondant to about 2-3mm (1/8 inch) thickness.
2. Cut Pumpkin Shapes: Use your pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to cut out 30 shapes. Place them on a board dusted with cornflour to keep them from sticking.

Step 3: Shape and Bake the Cookies

1. Roll Out the Dough: Retrieve the chilled dough and roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/2 cm (approx. 1/4 inch) thickness. It may be easier to roll smaller sections of dough at a time.
2. Cut Cookie Shapes: Using the same pumpkin-shaped cutter, cut out cookies, placing them close together to reduce waste.
3. Bake: Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving just a bit of space between them. Bake for 6 minutes or until the edges turn pale golden.

4th step : Ice the Cookies

1. Prepare the Glue: Mix the icing sugar with a teaspoon of water in a small container to create a glue-like mixture.
2. Attach the Fondant: While the cookies are still warm, lightly brush the tops with the icing glue, then press a fondant pumpkin shape on top of each cookie. Set the cookies on a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5: Decorate with Spooky Details

1. Get Creative! Use the black writing icing to add details to your pumpkins. You can make classic pumpkin grooves or add jack-o-lantern faces. Have fun with it!

Serving Suggestions

These Halloween Pumpkin Cookies are a fun treat on their own, but you can also add them to a festive dessert table or package them in treat bags for trick-or-treaters! For a full Halloween spread, consider pairing them with other spooky treats like Hairy Monster Cookies or Blood Splatter Cookies for a ghoulishly good time.

Tips for Making the Perfect Pumpkin Cookies

• Chill the Dough: Letting the dough chill keeps it from spreading too much in the oven, ensuring your cookies hold their pumpkin shape.
• Work with Small Dough Batches: Rolling small sections of dough makes it easier to work with and prevents overhandling, which can make the cookies tough.
• Be Creative with the Faces: Each cookie can have its own personality! Add different spooky expressions to make a varied batch that’s as fun to look at as it is to eat.

Storage Instructions

These cookies store well! Once the icing has fully set, place them in an airtight container. They will keep fresh for up to one week at room temperature or up to two weeks if refrigerated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I make these cookies in advance? Yes! The dough can be prepared up to two days in advance and stored in the fridge. You can also freeze the dough for up to a month.

Can I use regular icing instead of fondant? Absolutely. If you prefer, skip the fondant and use colored royal icing instead for a smoother, shiny finish.

How can I make the cookies vegan? Substitute vegan butter for the butter and a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp water) for the egg. Also, ensure your fondant is vegan.

Are there other Halloween cookie ideas? For more Halloween treats, check out our Leftover Halloween Candy Cookies for a delicious way to use up candy!

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Nutritional Information (per cookie)

• Calories: 128 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 23g
• Protein: 1g
• Fat: 4g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 13mg
• Sodium: 54mg
• Sugar: 16g

Conclusion: Fun and Delicious Halloween Pumpkin Cookies

These Halloween Pumpkin Cookies are a perfect mix of festive and delicious! Their sweet, buttery flavor and vibrant Halloween look make them a joy to bake, decorate, and share. Whether you’re making them with family, friends, or as a fun solo baking project, they’re sure to bring out the Halloween spirit.

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