Halloween Eyeball Cookies – Shortbread Halloween Cookies

These Halloween eyeball cookies are the easiest treats you can create as a fun project with the kids this Halloween season. The shortbread cookie dough is simple, easy and effortless, very similar to play dough with no chilling time required in between. This means you can make the dough, bake and enjoy the cookies in just 20 minutes.

Eyeball cookies, Halloween eyeball cookies, Shortbread eyeball cookies, Halloween kids projects, 20 min cookies

Being an American family far away from the US means the kids miss out on Halloween fun. One of the things Ziv misses about being in the US is Halloween and Thanksgiving and he wished the kids would get to experience it. I hope someday they will, but for now, all we can do is tell the kids about these wonderful holidays and do a few things to celebrate with them.

The three projects that my kids have been doing every year since they were little are these Halloween eyeball cookies, witches finger cookies and the blood filled cupcakes. Well, it simply strawberry filling filled in a chocolate cupcake with a big purple frosting on top. It’s always fun to watch the kids bit into these and have the strawberry filling ooze out.

Not to mention as a cake decorator sometimes I make a few Halloween inspired project as well. You remember the Halloween cupcake toppers we made a few years ago? Witch’s broom, witch’s boots, witch’s cauldron, witch’s hat, fondant pumpkins, Skull, and bones cake toppers

How to make Halloween eyeball cookies, easy eyeball shortbread cookies, creepy Halloween eyeball cookies

About these Halloween eyeball cookies (Save/Pin)

Honestly, you won’t get an easier cookie than this. They make perfect kids projects for Halloween. The base is my popular white shortbread cookie which is as simple as playdough. So easy to work with and so forgiving. The best part is there is no chilling time required between steps which means these can be done from start to finish in about 20 minutes.

My kids love painting the red veins on the eyes and you can see that they do quite a good job. I painted only two of these cookies the others are done by my Aadi and Rhea.  Then Rhea took them to her school to share it with the kids in class.

See my recipe for White Shortbread Cookies 

Eyeball cookies, Halloween eyeball cookies, Shortbread eyeball cookies, Halloween kids projects, 20 min cookies

Halloween Eyeball Cookies – Shortbread Eyeball Cookies (Save/Pin)

Useful Tips and Tools

• I’m not a slave to mixers. And yet, when you need some good creaming I have to insist that you use the K-Mix or Kitchen Aid.
• A good baking tray is always important. Try using a light colored baking trayBaking tray. Another option is to line the baking tray with Parchment Paper.
• If you aren’t going to fill or decorate these cookies a regular rolling pin will work just fine. And yet, a Cookie rolling pin has the side spacers that will also help you with rolling. So all your cookies are leveled, and bake evenly too.
• Also, it is really important to cool cookies completely on all sides as soon as they come out of the oven. So take them off the baking tray to prevent them cooking further and place them on an Cooking rack so they air circulates on all sides. This prevents steam from going back into the cookie thus…… keeping them crispy not soggy.
• Always bake cookies on the center rack of your Oven. If you have more than one tray simply bake them one at a time. You can bake two trays at the same time, and yet this can lead to some of the cookies in the bottom tray spreading too much. Also, you can rotate the trays during the baking. This is helpful with some cookies.
• Most cookies usually bake between 10 to 12 minutes. These took me about 10 minutes. Since cookies bake quickly they can also get over-baked. This is due to our tendency to  get distracted at the last minute. Hence, my solution is a kitchen timer that is always set to 10 minutes. I turn it on as soon as I place the cookies in the oven. This has saved me many cookies since my kids always keep me busy.

How to make Halloween eyeball cookies, easy eyeball shortbread cookies, creepy Halloween eyeball cookies

Ingredients

• 1 batch – white shortbread cookies – recipe here 
• Plus 1 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp butter (soft room temperature)
• and 1 tsp red gel food color

Method

Prepare white shortbread cookie dough

• Preheat the oven at 180 C/ 340 F.
• Prepare white shortbread cookie dough as described in the recipe and video below.

Prepare chocolate dough for the pupils

• Take about 2 tbsp of the prepared dough in a separate bowl.
• Add the cocoa powder and soft butter.
• Combine well until you have a smooth soft dough that can be rolled into a ball.

Form the eyes

• Divide the white shortbread cookies into 32 equal portions.
• Roll into a ball and onto flatten with the palm of your hand.
• Place it on a cookie tray – leave some space between the cookies as they bake.
• Then roll the chocolate dough you just made into small balls, flatten and place it on the white cookie.
• I like to place them off center (but kids usually will add them in the middle – and that’s ok too).

Bake

• Bake them in the oven for 10 t0 12 minutes until the sides are beginning to lightly color.
• Cool on a wire rack before you pain the red.
• When cooled – use red food gel color – dilute it with a little water.

Paint

• Use a fine tip brush and paint the veins just like you would tree roots.
• Voila!!

Eyeball cookies, Halloween eyeball cookies, Shortbread eyeball cookies, Halloween kids projects, 20 min cookies

Halloween Eyeball Cookies aka Shortbread Eyeball Cookies

Author: Veena Azmanov

5 from 20 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course - Snacks

Cuisine - American

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 12 mins

Total Time: 17 mins

Calories: 5

Adjust Servings Here: 32 cookies

Description

These simple and easy Halloween eyeball cookies are a perfect kids project that you can do with the kids this Halloween. The shortbread cookie dough is similar to play dough and needs no chilling time means they can make an enjoy these cookies in 20 minutes time. 

Ingredients

• 1 batch White shortbread cookie dough recipe here
• 1 tsp Cocoa powder
• 1 tsp Butter soft room temperature
• 1/2 tsp Red food color gel

Metric - US customary

ADJUST SERVINGS HERE - 32 cookies

Conversions - Switch between Metric & US for other measurement options

Instructions

Prepare white shortbread cookie dough

• Preheat the oven at 180 C/ 340 F.
• Prepare white shortbread cookie dough as described in the recipe and video below.

Prepare chocolate dough for the pupils

• Take about 2 tbsp of the prepared dough in a separate bowl.
• Add the cocoa powder and soft butter.
• Combine well until you have a smooth soft dough that can be rolled into a ball.

Form the eyes

• Divide the white shortbread cookies into 32 equal portions.
• Roll into a ball and onto flatten with the palm of your hand.
• Place it on a cookie tray - leave some space between the cookies as they bake.
• Then roll the chocolate dough you just made into small balls, flatten and place it on the white cookie.
• I like to place them off center (but kids usually will add them in the middle - and that's ok too).

Bake

• Bake them in the oven for 10 t0 12 minutes until the sides are beginning to lightly color.
• Cool on a wire rack before you pain the red.
• When cooled - use red food gel color - dilute it with a little water.

Paint

• Use a fine tip brush and paint the veins just like you would tree routes.
• Voila!!

Recipe Video

About Videos - most recipes has two videos - a quick version in the post & longer detailed version on this recipe card. Sometimes a similar recipe video may be used. Please do subscribe to my channel if you like my videos

Nutrition Information

Calories: 5kcal | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Iron: 0mg

The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you

Keywords - 20 minutes, easy, Halloween, Shortbread, Treats

Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear how it was.Mention @veenaazmanov or tag me on Instagram #veenaazmanov

Love Cookies? Me too!

You may like to check out some of my other cookie recipes.
Or Click here to see a Recipe Index of all recipes on my blog.

Must have cookie jar recipe collection by Veena Azmanov