Creepy Witch Finger Cookies (Printable Version)
Spooky almond cookies shaped like witch fingers with bloody fingernail effects. Perfect Halloween party treat ready in 45 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cookie Dough
01 - 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
05 - ½ teaspoon almond extract
06 - 2 ¾ cups (350 g) all-purpose flour
07 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
→ Decoration
09 - 24 whole blanched almonds
10 - Red gel food coloring or strawberry jam
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Mix in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully incorporated.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing just until dough comes together.
06 - Roll 1 tablespoon dough into 3–4 inch finger shapes. Score knuckle lines with knife and press almond nail into one end.
07 - Place cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake for 18–20 minutes until lightly golden.
08 - Remove almonds, apply red coloring or jam to nail bed, and press almonds back into place.
09 - Transfer cookies to wire rack and let cool completely before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The dough comes together in minutes and handles beautifully for shaping all those creepy knuckles
- These cookies disappear faster than ghosts at dawn whether you are eight or eighty years old
02 -
- Work quickly when shaping the dough because warmth from your hands makes it sticky and harder to form detailed knuckles
- The almonds can shift during baking so glue them back on with a tiny dab of red jam for extra security
03 -
- Chill the shaped fingers on the baking sheet for 15 minutes before baking to preserve those knuckle details
- Dip your knife in flour between scoring to prevent it from sticking to the dough