Witch Finger Cookies

Jake's note

"These Witch Finger Cookies are an iconic Halloween bake — simple enough for kids to shape and decorate, but cute and creepy enough to be a hit at parties and school events. Expect gentle rolling and a short chill to make shaping easy."

Instructions

1. 1

   Prep and cream wet ingredients

   Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar with a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes). Beat in the egg and vanilla until fully incorporated.

   For this step

   • 1 cupUnsalted butter, softened
   • 3/4 cupGranulated sugar
   • 1 largeLarge egg
   • 1 tspPure vanilla extract
   
2. 2

   Add dry ingredients and form dough

   Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and mix until a soft, slightly crumbly dough forms. Gather the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes to make shaping easier.

   For this step

   • 2 1/4 cupsAll-purpose flour
   • 1 tspBaking powder
   • 1/2 tspSalt
   
3. 3

   Shape into fingers and add almond nails

   Divide the chilled dough into 24 equal pieces and roll each into a 2½–3 inch (6–8 cm) finger-shaped log, slightly tapering one end. Press a whole almond into the tapered end of each log to create the fingernail. Use the back of a butter knife to make three shallow knuckle indentations on each finger. (This recipe makes 24 cookies.)

   For this step

   • 24 whole almondsWhole blanched almonds (for "fingernails")
   
4. 4

   Bake until pale golden

   Place the shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 1½ inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 12–14 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden and the bottoms are set. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
   
5. 5

   Add "blood" and serve

   If desired, dot a small amount of raspberry jam or red decorating gel at the base of the almond to simulate blood and wipe gently for a realistic effect. Arrange on a platter and enjoy — each cookie is one spooky treat (1 cookie per serving).

   For this step

   • 3 tbspRaspberry jam or red decorating gel (optional, for "blood")
   

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar with a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes). Beat in the egg and vanilla until fully incorporated.
2. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and mix until a soft, slightly crumbly dough forms. Gather the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes to make shaping easier.
3. Divide the chilled dough into 24 equal pieces and roll each into a 2½–3 inch (6–8 cm) finger-shaped log, slightly tapering one end. Press a whole almond into the tapered end of each log to create the fingernail. Use the back of a butter knife to make three shallow knuckle indentations on each finger. (This recipe makes 24 cookies.)
4. Place the shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 1½ inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 12–14 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden and the bottoms are set. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. If desired, dot a small amount of raspberry jam or red decorating gel at the base of the almond to simulate blood and wipe gently for a realistic effect. Arrange on a platter and enjoy — each cookie is one spooky treat (1 cookie per serving).

About the author

Jake

Hello, I'm Jake. I started this recipe site with the idea that I hated recipe websites that overwhelm you with long stories and ads just to see plain content that's not helpful. My goal is to provide you with quality recipes, simple ideas and a fun cooking experience. There's lots of fun things to cook, and I think as you browse the site you'll find that TopShelf.Recipes is the place for quality recipes on the web.

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