Description
These Spiderweb Halloween Cookies are festive, fun, and perfect for spooky celebrations. Soft and buttery sugar cookies are decorated with a striking spiderweb pattern using black and white icing, making them an ideal treat for Halloween parties or themed gatherings. The optional cocoa powder adds a darker twist to the dough for an even more eerie effect.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Black or dark cocoa powder (optional, for color)
For the Icing
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
- Black food coloring
- White food coloring (or leave white)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure that cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution of leavening agents and salt throughout the dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until creamy and fluffy, creating a light texture for the cookies.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract thoroughly to combine wet ingredients and add flavor depth.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until just combined to form the cookie dough. Optionally, stir in some black or dark cocoa powder to give the dough a darker color and richer flavor.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into small balls and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten each ball to promote even baking.
- Bake: Bake cookies in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are set and lightly golden.
- Cool: Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating to prevent icing from melting.
- Prepare Icing: In a bowl, mix powdered sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk until the icing is smooth, thick, yet pipeable.
- Color Icing: Divide the icing into two bowls; color one with black food coloring and leave the other white (or add white food coloring if desired).
- Decorate Cookies: Spread a thin, even layer of the white icing on each cookie as a base. Using a piping bag or a small zip-top bag with the tip cut off, pipe 3 or 4 concentric circles from the center outward with the black icing.
- Create Spiderweb Effect: Drag a toothpick or skewer from the center of the cookie outward through the black icing to the edge, repeating this step several times to form a spiderweb pattern.
- Set and Serve: Allow the icing to set completely before serving or storing to prevent smudging.
Notes
- Add chocolate chips or a hint of cinnamon to the dough for a flavor twist.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container once the icing is fully dry to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
