Spooky Jack-o’-Lantern Cookies

These fun and festive Jacko’Lantern Cookies capture the spirit of Halloween with their crisp buttery texture and playful pumpkin faces. Perfect for sharing at parties or just enjoying a seasonal treat, they bring a delightful touch of fall to any gathering.

I first made these cookies with my kids last Halloween and it quickly became a tradition we look forward to every year. Decorating the spooky faces together always ends with lots of laughter and very creative designs.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter softened: provides rich flavor and tender texture choose good quality for best results
• Granulated sugar: balances the butter’s richness and helps with browning
• Large egg: binds ingredients and adds moisture
• Vanilla extract: enhances flavor with warm sweet notes use pure extract for best taste
• Allpurpose flour: forms the cookie’s structure sift to avoid lumps and measure carefully
• Baking powder: helps the cookies rise just enough to be light, not cakey
• Salt: heightens all the flavors and balances sweetness
• Orange food coloring: gives the dough an inviting pumpkin hue add gradually for preferred intensity
• Black royal icing: perfect for detailed Jacko’Lantern faces you can buy premade or make your own

Instructions

Preheat the Oven:

Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and helps cookies bake evenly.

Cream Butter and Sugar:

In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step aerates the dough, making for tender cookies.

Mix in Egg and Vanilla:

Add the large egg and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar. Beat until everything is fully combined, creating a smooth base for the dough.

Combine Dry Ingredients Slowly:

In a separate bowl, whisk together the allpurpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just incorporated. This prevents overworking the dough which can make cookies tough.

Add Food Coloring and Work the Dough:

Drop small amounts of orange food coloring on the dough and knead it gently until the entire dough is evenly tinted a bright pumpkin color. Be careful not to overknead, which can toughen the cookie.

Roll and Cut Shapes:

Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough out to about one quarter inch thickness. Use a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Transfer the cookies carefully onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the Cookies:

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden. Keep an eye on them to avoid overbaking.

Cool Completely:

Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool fully. This ensures the royal icing will not melt when decorating.

Decorate with Icing:

Using black royal icing, pipe spooky or silly Jacko’Lantern faces onto the cooled cookies. Take your time to make each one unique and fun.

My favorite ingredient is the orange food coloring because it instantly transforms the dough into those bright festive pumpkins that everyone smiles at. One Halloween, our entire family gathered around to pipe faces and it turned into a memorable, laughterfilled tradition we'll cherish forever.

Storage Tips

Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crisp. Sugar cookies like these can soften if exposed to air, so make sure the container is sealed well. You can layer parchment paper between cookies to prevent the icing from sticking.

Ingredient Substitutions

Butter can be swapped for margarine but expect a slightly different texture and flavor. For a glutenfree option, use a glutenfree allpurpose flour blend. If you don’t have royal icing, thickened storebought icing or melted chocolate can be alternatives for decorating.

Serving Suggestions

These cookies are a perfect accompaniment to warm apple cider or a cup of hot cocoa. They also make great gifts when wrapped in cellophane with a festive ribbon, bringing Halloween cheer to friends and neighbors.

These Jacko’Lantern Cookies are a festive and delicious treat to share during fall gatherings. Have fun decorating and enjoy!

Your Recipe Questions Answered

→ What gives these cookies their orange color?

Orange food coloring is added to the dough to create the vibrant pumpkin tone before baking.

→ How can I achieve crisp cookies?

Rolling the dough to a quarter-inch thickness and baking until edges are lightly golden helps ensure a crisp texture.

→ What type of icing is used for decoration?

Black royal icing is piped onto cooled cookies to create the spooky Jack-o’-Lantern faces.

→ Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Yes, the dough can be refrigerated before rolling and cutting to maintain firmness and ease handling.

→ What equipment is essential for shaping the cookies?

A pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter and rolling pin are used to shape the dough before baking.