5 Delicious Halloween Sugar Cookie Recipes

Halloween is the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen, and nothing screams spooky and sweet like halloween sugar cookie recipes Soft, buttery, and fun to decorate, these cookies are ideal for kids, adults, and party treats. From ghost-shaped cookies to pumpkins, witches’ hats, and candy-eyed monsters, these recipes make Halloween extra festive and delicious.

Halloween Sugar Cookie Recipes

1. Classic Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Ingredients (for 24 cookies):

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp pumpkin spice (optional, for flavor)

For Frosting/Decorating:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tsp milk
• Orange food coloring
• Green icing for the pumpkin stem

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin spice.
3. Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat softened butter with sugar until fluffy.
4. Add egg and vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth.
5. Combine: Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
6. Roll and cut: Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut pumpkin shapes using a cookie cutter.
7. Bake: Place cookies on the prepared sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
8. Cool: Let cookies cool completely on a wire rack.
9. Prepare frosting: Mix powdered sugar with milk and orange food coloring until smooth.
10. Decorate: Frost cookies orange and pipe a green stem at the top. Let frosting set before serving.

Tips:

Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

For extra texture, sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar on top before baking.

2. Ghost Sugar Cookies

Ingredients (for 24 cookies):

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For Frosting/Decorating:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tsp milk
• White food coloring (optional, for extra white frosting)
• Mini chocolate chips or black icing for eyes

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cream butter and sugar: Beat softened butter with sugar until fluffy.
4. Add egg and vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth.
5. Combine: Gradually add dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
6. Roll and cut: Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut shapes.
7. Bake: Place cookies on baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes until lightly golden on edges.
8. Cool: Let cookies cool completely on a wire rack.
9. Prepare frosting: Mix powdered sugar with milk (and white food coloring if desired) until smooth.
10. Decorate: Frost the cookies white, then place mini chocolate chips or pipe black icing for ghost eyes.

Tips:

• Use a toothpick to help shape the frosting into a smooth ghost outline.
• These cookies can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

3. Witch Hat Sugar Cookies

Ingredients (for 24 cookies):

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder (to make the dough chocolatey for the hat)

For Frosting/Decorating:

• Black or dark purple icing
• Mini chocolate cones (for the hat top)
• Sprinkles or edible stars for decoration

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix dry ingredients: Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder.
3. Cream butter and sugar: Beat softened butter with sugar until fluffy.
4. Add egg and vanilla: Mix in egg and vanilla extract.
5. Combine: Gradually add dry ingredients to form a chocolate cookie dough.
6. Shape cookies: Roll dough into small circles (for the hat base).
7. Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes, then let cool completely.
8. Assemble hats: Frost cookie base with black icing, then place a mini chocolate cone on top. Decorate with sprinkles or edible stars.

Tips:

• For extra stability, lightly attach cones with a dab of frosting.
• These make a fun centerpiece for Halloween cookie platters.

4. Candy Corn Sugar Cookies

Ingredients (for 24 cookies):

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Yellow, orange, and red food coloring

For Frosting/Decorating:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tsp milk
• Food coloring: yellow, orange, white (for the candy corn layers)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix dry ingredients: Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cream butter and sugar: Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add egg and vanilla: Mix until smooth.
5. Combine: Gradually add dry ingredients to form a soft dough.
6. Shape cookies: Roll dough into small triangles to mimic candy corn.
7. Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely.
8. Prepare frosting: Divide frosting into three bowls, color each one yellow, orange, and white.
9. Decorate: Frost each triangle in layers: bottom yellow, middle orange, top white. Let set.

Tips:

• Use a toothpick to smooth and layer the colors.
• Perfect for adding a vibrant touch to Halloween cookie platters.

5. Spider Web Sugar Cookies

Ingredients (for 24 cookies):

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For Frosting/Decorating:

• 1 cup white icing
• 2–3 tsp milk
• Black icing or chocolate for web
• Optional: small candy spiders

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix dry ingredients: Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cream butter and sugar: Beat butter with sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add egg and vanilla: Mix until smooth.
5. Combine: Gradually add dry ingredients to form dough.
6. Shape cookies: Roll dough into circles (or any round shape).
7. Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes until lightly golden. Cool completely.
8. Prepare white icing: Mix powdered sugar with milk for smooth white frosting.
9. Decorate: Frost cookies white. Using black icing, draw concentric circles, then drag a toothpick from the center outward to create a spider web effect.
10. Optional: Place a candy spider on top.

Tips:

• Practice web pattern on parchment before doing cookies.
• Great for spooky Halloween displays.

Fun Decoration Ideas

The decorating part is where your Halloween sugar cookies come to life:

• Royal Icing: Tint in orange, black, purple, and white for pumpkins, ghosts, or bats.
  
• Candy Eyes: Perfect for spooky monsters and ghosts.
  
• Sprinkles & Edible Glitter: Add shimmer and fun textures.
  
• Chocolate Drizzle: Draw spiderwebs or spooky patterns.
  

Decorate as simply or elaborately as you like — the goal is fun and festive treats!

Kid-Friendly Halloween Sugar Cookies

Baking with kids? Let them help with shaping and decorating! Pre-cut shapes are perfect for little hands, and you can use safe, colorful food coloring. Kids love adding candy eyes and sprinkles, making it an enjoyable Halloween activity that ends in sweet treats.

Tips for Perfect Halloween Sugar Cookie Recipes

1. Use room-temperature ingredients for a smoother dough.
   
2. Don’t overbake — slightly soft cookies taste best.
   
3. Decorate after cookies cool completely to prevent melting icing.
   
4. Store in an airtight container to keep them fresh up to a week.
   

Final Words

Halloween Sugar Cookie Recipes are more than just dessert — they’re a fun and festive way to celebrate. Whether baked with kids or for a party, they bring color, creativity, and sweetness to the season.

For more spooky and delicious ideas, check out our full collection of Halloween cookie recipes

Halloween Sugar Cookie Recipes (FAQs)

1. What are some simple Halloween sugar cookie recipes?

Simple recipes usually use basic ingredients like flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. You can cut them into spooky shapes and decorate with icing, sprinkles, or candy eyes. Our classic Halloween sugar cookies recipe is perfect for beginners.

2. How can I make Halloween sugar cookie recipes easy?

Use pre-made dough or chill your dough for 30 minutes before cutting shapes. Focus on simple decorations like colored icing or candy eyes for a fast, fun result.

3. Can I make Halloween sugar cookies with Pillsbury dough?

Yes! Pillsbury sugar cookie dough is convenient and works well for Halloween shapes. Just roll, cut, bake, and decorate.

4. How do I decorate Halloween sugar cookie recipes?

Decorate cookies with royal icing, sprinkles, candy eyes, or chocolate drizzle. Use orange, black, and purple colors for a spooky theme. Pre-cut shapes like pumpkins, ghosts, and bats make decorating easier.

5. What are the best Halloween sugar cookie recipes?

The best recipes are soft, buttery, and slightly sweet. Our classic sugar cookies, pumpkin-shaped cookies, and decorated ghost cookies are all crowd-pleasers for kids and adults.

6. How do I make a basic sugar cookies recipe?

Cream butter and sugar, add egg and vanilla, then gradually mix in flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Roll, cut, and bake until lightly golden. Decorate as desired.

7. Can I buy Halloween Sugar Cookies at Walmart?

Yes! Walmart offers pre-made Halloween-themed sugar cookies that are perfect for parties or quick treats. You can also customize them further with icing and candy decorations.

8. Where can I find recipes for Halloween cookies?

You can find many recipes online, but homemade sugar cookies are easy to customize for Halloween. Check out our blog for step-by-step recipes with decoration tips.

9. How do I make sugar cookies fun for kids?

Use fun shapes, colorful icing, sprinkles, and candy eyes. Kids can participate in decorating — it’s an activity as fun as eating the cookies!

10. Can I make Halloween sugar cookies ahead of time?

Yes! Bake the cookies, let them cool, and store them in an airtight container. Decorate right before serving to keep colors bright and icing fresh.