How to Make Cute + Delicious Halloween Shortbread Cookies
The dough mixes up beautifully, and the decorations are simple and doable. No fancy techniques, no cookie cutters. Amen.
But don’t be fooled by this recipe’s ease—these Halloween shortbread cookies are delicious! The shortbread base is buttery and crumbly, and the chocolate coating is the perfect finishing touch. This is one of the best classic cookie recipes for a holiday.
Halloween Shortbread Cookies
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter room temperature
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 2-2¼ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
- candy eyes
- Halloween sprinkles
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Instructions
- Prep baking sheets. Preheat oven to 325 degrees with two racks in the upper middle and lower middle positions. Prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Make dough. Cream butter and sugar in an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add 2 cups of flour and mix on low until the flour is mixed in. The cookie dough will appear very crumbly, but do not add any liquid. Turn it on onto a floured surface and mix in the remaining ¼ cup of flour by hand.
- Roll out and cut. Roll the cookie dough out to ½ inch thickness, dusting the rolling pin with flour if the dough sticks. Cut into 3 x 1-inch strips. Place on a prepared baking sheet. They will not spread much.
- Bake and cool. Bake the cookies for 20 minutes, until cookies are set and edges are golden brown. Cool completely on wire racks for dipping.
- Dip and decorate. Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in the microwave on LOW for 45 seconds, stirring halfway through. Dip the cookies in the chocolate and place them on a piece of waxed or parchment paper. Add Halloween sprinkles or candy eyes while the chocolate is still melted. Let them rest on the paper until the chocolate sets.
Notes
Nutrition
I don’t think too hard about what kind of cookie to make for every holiday. I always make shortbread. I like it, it’s fun to decorate, and whatever decorations I have on hand will work just fine.
What You’ll Need for This Recipe
To make these spooky treats, you’ll need a few key ingredients:
- Salted butter. Using salted butter in the shortbread base adds a subtle savory note that balances the sweetness.
- Candy eyes. These edible decorations give your cookies a fun and spooky look. You can find them in the baking aisle or craft stores around Halloween.
- Halloween sprinkles. Choose sprinkles in festive shapes and colors like pumpkins, ghosts, or bats to add a final touch of Halloween spirit to your cookies.
These ingredients come together to create delicious and festive cookies perfect for your Halloween celebrations
Questions, Changes, and More For Your Shortbread
I’ve found that a longer bake at a lower temperature prevents them from cracking or crumbling in the oven.
Yes! A circle or a pumpkin cookie cutter would work very well. But something more intricate (like a bat or broomstick) isn’t the best choice with this dough.
No, you can use just one. I like the mix of both but it’s not necessary.
You could use regular sprinkles in their place. Or even M&Ms
These Halloween shortbread cookies are easy to make and fun to decorate. They’re perfect for parties, spooky snacks, or a fun baking project with kids. I hope you enjoy these festive treats as you celebrate the Halloween season!
By Katie Shaw
Katie shares simple, reliable recipes from her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens.