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Spiced Halloween Sugar Cookies

These cookies are a festive twist on classic sugar cookies, infused with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove for an autumnal flavor. They are shaped into spooky themes, baked until golden, and finished with colorful decorations, offering a crisp yet chewy texture and a cozy, aromatic appearance.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 24
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 120
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional, for extra spice
  • 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
  • 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves optional

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Rolling pin
  • Cookie Cutters
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire Rack

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and sugar together with a mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, and you can see it’s slightly pale and creamy.
  2. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then beat again until well combined, about 1 minute. The mixture should be smooth and slightly glossy.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to evenly distribute the spices.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing on low speed or folding with a spatula until the dough just comes together and is slightly sticky but manageable.
  5. Divide the dough into two equal parts, shape each into a flat disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to relax the gluten and make rolling easier.
  6. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin to prevent sticking.
  7. Remove one dough disc from the refrigerator, and roll it out to about 0.5 cm thickness, ensuring an even surface without cracking.
  8. Use spooky-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes like ghosts, bats, or pumpkins, then carefully transfer the cutouts onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  9. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and fragrant with spices.
  10. Remove the cookies from the oven, and let them cool on a wire rack until they are firm and cool enough to decorate.
  11. Decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing, colored sugars, or edible markers to add spooky details and make them festive for Halloween.

Notes

Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading. Feel free to experiment with different spooky shapes and decorating techniques for a fun, festive touch.