Celebrate the season with stenciled Halloween sugar cookies as a fun project to make with the kids. Stenciled on my popular recipe for vanilla sugar cookies these are such an ideal treat. The stenciling technique is so simple, easy and effortless that you and the kids will have loads of fun. Give them as gifts and everyone will be impressed.
Table of Content
Can you believe it's Halloween soon? We will miss being in the US again this year. Despite being American my kids have only known Halloween and Thanksgiving thru pictures, movies, and parents. Every year, I try to make sure I do things that are Halloween related. So, Aadi gets to wear a costume. We make cupcakes, cookies, and such treats to build up the atmosphere.
Almost every year, I make the spooky witch fingers with the kids. I plan to share those with you this week too. And I make Halloween sugar cookies like the pumpkin and bats. You must remember my Halloween cupcakes with cute cupcakes toppers like witch's hat, brooms, cauldron, boots, and pumpkins. Those were really fun for the kids.
Last year, I picked these Halloween cookie stencils from eBay and I just knew I had to use them. As a cake decorator, I'd probably try some fancy way to use them but I wanted to keep it really simple so the kids will have some fun. I also wanted to use something natural rather than food gel colors or such. So, the cocoa paste works perfectly and it's delicious too.
Stenciling technique
Did you like stenciling when you were a kid? Well, now you will with these simple, easy and fun techniques. Everyone will be impressed with how easy this is. You can try different textures with just the consistency of the cocoa paste as well. This technique still has so much to explore.
Sugar cookies recipes
Below I have given you my easy recipe for no-spread vanilla sugar cookies. Of course, you can also use my very popular vanilla sugar cookies or my no-chill sugar cookies. I also have the chocolate sugar cookies as well as the eggless vanilla sugar cookies. You can use either for this technique.
If you want to use my chocolate sugar cookies you may need to use a thick royal icing in white or colored to do the stencil work. If you choose to use my eggless chocolate sugar cookies - you will need to just a plain sugar icing - so basically a paste made with powdered sugar and a few drops of water.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Unsalted butter - I like to use unsalted butter in all my baking so I can control the amount of salt. And yet, if you must use salted butter omit the salt in the recipe.
- All-purpose flour - I always use all-purpose flour with great success. You do not need any other flour.
- Cornstarch - Also known as cornflour - I never miss an opportunity to add starch, cornflour, rice flour, semolina. These add a nice crumbly melt in the mouthfeel. It also lightens the cookie.
- Powdered sugar - Also known as confectioners sugar or icing sugar. When looking for powdered sugar always buy one made from cane sugar, not beet sugar. You will find that the buttercream made from cane sugar does not have a grainy consistency.
- Vanilla extract - I like using vanilla extract. And yet, it also tends to color the dough. So, if you need a white or plain white dough, add clear vanilla extract or rose essence. Having said that, always use a good quality vanilla extract. I know it's expensive which is why I make my vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste as well as vanilla sugar.
Step by step instructions (pin)
Prepare cookie dough
- Cream butter and powdered sugar in your mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add in the salt and vanilla.
- Followed by the eggs one at a time – incorporating each well.
- Next goes in the dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch -cocoa powder for chocolate cookies)
- Bring the dough together and divide into two discs.
- Wrap in cling/plastic wrap for at least 1 to 2 hours.
- Once the dough is chilled, roll it on a lightly floured surface evenly.
- I roll my cookies ⅛ inch or 3 mm thick using a rolling pin with spacers
- Use a 3-inch circle cookie cutter and cut cookies
- Chill the cookies for at least 2 hours or until firm.
Prepare cocoa paste
- combine the cocoa powder and water to form a paste.
- The ratio of cocoa powder to water is just a guide
- What you looking for is a paste consistency
Stencil cookies
- Ensure cookies are firm to the touch.
- Place stencil on the cookie
- Using a damp paintbrush lightly dipped in the cocoa paste.
- Hold the stencil firmly on the cookie (which is why we need the cookies to be chilled well)
- Brush the cocoa paste on the stencil as shown in the video.
- When done - lift the stencil carefully to reveal the design
- Any minor cocoa paste smears can be cleaned gently with a wet paper towel
- Place the cookies on a baking tray and chill them again.
Bake and cool
- Once the cookies are chilled again.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/ 360 F
- Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until just starting to get lightly golden on the edges.
- Cool on a cookie rack before you stack and store in the cookie jar.
Frequently asked questions
Too much butter or sugar in the recipe can lead to cookies spreading.
Too much baking powder or baking soda can also make cookies spread too much.
Also, chill the cookie dough before rolling the cookies.
And chill the rolled cookies before baking in the hot oven.
Place cookies on a cold, not hot baking pan.
And make sure the oven is at the right temperature.
I usually chill my cookies for about 15 to 30 minutes. It is always a good practice to refrigerate cookies while the oven is preheating. Chilling cookie dough helps solidify the butter in the cookies. This helps when baking by preventing them from spreading since chilled dough takes longer to melt compared to room temperature fat.
Most regular cookies are crisp on the outside and soft or chewy on the inside. Sugar cookies are softer but not soft. While they are not necessarily delicate, they can be broken easily.
If over-baked they can be brittle but still delicious to eat. Cookies become hard as they cool, so it's always a good idea to keep an eye when baking. Ideally, they should not have any brown edges. Perhaps a light color around the edges. Also, leave them on the hot tray for a good 5 to 7 minutes, so they continue to cook and hold their shape
Sugar cookies have a good shelf life as a dough as well as cookies. The dough, if wrapped well, can usually stay in the fridge for 5 to 6 days before rolling and baking. And you can even cover the cookies and place them on a parchment-lined tray, wrapped well with cling wrap, for about 3 to 4 days. In addition, sugar cookies dough can be frozen for a month or more if covered well. Hence, it's a great dough to have on hand in the freezer during the busy festive season.
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You may also like
- Stenciled Christmas Sugar Cookies - Video Tutorial
- Halloween Eyeball Cookies
- Halloween Brownies
- and Halloween Pumpkin Cupcake Topper Tutorial
Recipe
Stenciled Halloween Sugar Cookies Video Tutorial
Print Pin RateDescription
Video
Ingredients
Cookies
- 3 cups (375 g) All-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp (30 g) Cornstarch (cornflour)
- 8 oz (226 g) Unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 cups (240 g) Powdered sugar confectioners sugar/ icing sugar
- 2 Eggs large
- ¼ tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
Cocoa paste
- 4 tbsp (30 g) cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp water.
Instructions
Cookie Dough
- Cream butter and powdered sugar in your mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add in the salt and vanilla.
- Followed by the eggs one at a time – incorporating each well.
- Next goes in the dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch -cocoa powder for chocolate cookies)
- Bring the dough together and divide into two discs.
- Wrap in cling/plastic wrap for at least 1 to 2 hours.
- Once the dough is chilled, roll it on a lightly floured surface evenly.
- I roll my cookies ⅛ inch or 3 mm thick using a rolling pin with spacers
- Use a 3-inch circle cookie cutter and cut cookies
- Chill the cookies for at least 2 hours or until firm.
Cocoa paste
- combine the cocoa powder and water to form a paste.
- The ratio of cocoa powder to water is just a guide
- What you looking for is a paste consistency
Stencil cookies
- Ensure cookies are firm to the touch.
- Place stencil on the cookie
- Using a damp paintbrush lightly dipped in the cocoa paste.
- Hold the stencil firmly on the cookie (which is why we need the cookies to be chilled well)
- Brush the cocoa paste on the stencil as shown in the video.
- When done – lift the stencil carefully to reveal the design
- Any minor cocoa paste smears can be cleaned gently with a wet paper towel
- Place the cookies on a baking tray and chill them again.
Bake & Cool
- Once the cookies are chilled again.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/ 360 F
- Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until just starting to get lightly golden on the edges.
- Cool on a cookie rack before you stack and store in the cookie jar.
Nutrition Information
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
Marisa Franca
Whoooooooooo! So spooky I love it!! I'm sure the kiddos go nuts over them too. I didn't even know they made stencils for cookies. Where have I been?? You've given me some ideas for next year at Halloween and at Christmas. Those cookies would be perfect for a Halloween party.
Veena Azmanov
They make everything these days Marisa. I'm always surprised at what you can find. Thanks
Jyothi (Jo)
I love this simple idea of halloween treats. So much fun watching you create those stenciled cookies, and I am sure kids would have a blast creating these. Fun project for halloween
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Jyothi. Yes, it really is so simple and fun.
Dan Zehr
I will definitely try this cookie on the Halloween. Very tasty and quite original. I love it! Thank you.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Dan. let me know if you do. Love to see it.
Mahy Elamin
mmm this cookie is so beautiful! Yum Yum Yum! Cannot wait to try this! Love! Thank you for sharing this great recipe.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Mahy. I hope you have fun making these.
Denay DeGuzman
These stenciled sugar cookies are fantastic! What a great idea for Halloween. A perfect project to enjoy with the family.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Denay. Glad you think so.
Noel Lizotte
So pretty! and just a bit spooky! These look almost easy enough for me to make! You make things look so simple... thanks for helping build my confidence.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much, Noel. Yes, you definitely can make these.
Karyl Henry
Wow, what a fun idea! This definitely makes the cookies look super spooky. I'll have to give this a try for Halloween this year
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Karyl. You must give these a try.
Pavani
Wow, this is such a cute way to make Halloween cookies Veena. I have never done stenciling on cookies before, but it sounds like so much fun. Thanks for the idea.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Pavani. You must try stenciling. Kids love it.
Lauren Vavala
This is such a fun tutorial and the cookies really look spooky! I'm going to try this with my kids this year!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Lauren. Yes, these were definitely fun. Not so spooky according to my kids.
Claudia Lamascolo
wow what a beautiful work of art! I would love these but I do not have that creative patience you do. Your cookies are fabulous!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Claudia. These really are easy - you will be surprised.