Spooky Cookies Muhahaha!

As you know halloween is right around the corner. So what a treat it would be to make, bake or buy halloween themed cookies! I'm going to share some of my favorite videos, recipes and recommendation for buying themed cookies for those of us that don't want to get down and dirty in the kitchen. So hold on to your chef hats cause we're off!

Decorating cookies shaped like ghosts, jack-o'-lanterns, and black cats is a great way to prepare for Halloween and a wonderful children's project. Use smooth, glossy royal icing in holiday hues to dress up sugar, chocolate, or gingerbread cookies. Then, follow these instructions for flooding, piping, or sanding -- three easy cookie-decorating techniques that will give these confections a festive finishing touch.

RecipeRoyal IcingMakes 16 cookies

2 large eggs
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
Juice of 1 lemon
Glycerin (optional)
Food coloring

1. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry. Add confectioners' sugar and lemon juice. Beat for 1 minute or more. If icing is too thick, add more egg whites; if it is too thin, add more sugar.

2. For a glossy icing, mix in a few drops of glycerin. To tint icing, add food coloring sparingly, one drop at a time, using the end of a toothpick. Blend well.

Flooding, Piping and SandingFor Flooding
To ice the entire cookie, use a pastry bag with a #2 tip. A thinner icing consistency is preferable when flooding; just add a bit of water to thin out the icing. Fill the pastry bag, cuff the open end over one hand, and use a spatula to scrape in the icing. Twist the half-full bag closed, so the icing doesn't leak out at the top.

For Piping
Using a #3 tip, rest the tip on your index finger, pushing the icing out gently with your thumb.

For Sanding
Dust the cookie with sanding sugar to make it sparkle. Tap off the excess sugar when the cookie is dry.

From Martha Stewart Living Television, October 1999

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Halloween Cookie Decorations - Martha Stewart Recipes 


 

Black Cat Cookies

by:Kathy Stock @ 

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Black-Cat-Cookies/Detail.aspx

Prep Time:
25 Min

Cook Time:
10 Min

Ready In:
35 Min

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup baking cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 24 wooden craft sticks
• 48 pieces candy corn
• 24 red-hot candies

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Roll dough into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place 3 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets.
2. Insert a wooden stick into each cookie. Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar. Pinch top of cookie to form ears. For whiskers, press a fork twice into each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set. Remove from the oven; immediately press on candy corn for eyes and red-hots for noses. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Some cool videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhsavx9mZO0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHaVJDYcPaA

My recommendation: 

Halloween Village
From: Cookies In Bloom