What is the secret to good cut-out cookies?

The secret is proper dough handling: cream the butter and sugars well, measure flour correctly, and chill before rolling. This keeps shapes sharp and textures tender.

Why do my cut-out cookies spread?

Cookies spread when dough is too warm or flour is packed incorrectly. Chill dough, measure flour with the spoon-and-level method, and always bake on parchment or silicone mats.

How do you keep shapes from losing detail?

Use cold dough, sharp cookie cutters, and bake on the middle rack. You can even chill the cut-out shapes on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking to keep edges crisp.

Can you freeze cut-out cookie dough?

Yes! Wrap discs of dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before rolling and baking. You can also freeze baked cookies before decorating for up to 2 months.

What’s the difference between cut-out cookies and drop cookies?

Cut-out cookies are rolled and shaped, holding detailed designs for decorating. Drop cookies, like chocolate chip, are scooped directly onto the tray and bake into softer, round shapes.

Halloween Cut-Out Cookies – Fun, Spooky & Easy to Decorate

Name: Halloween Cut-Out Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 42 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature; ⅔ cup powdered sugar; 1 large egg yolk, room temperature; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; ¼ tsp salt; ½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips; ⅓ cup Halloween sprinkles (divided)

Description

Buttery, crumbly shortbread cookies dressed up with festive sprinkles, chocolate chips, and candy eyes. Perfect Halloween shortbread cookies for cut-outs or slice-and-bake fun.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
⅔ cup powdered sugar
1 large egg yolk, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
⅓ cup Halloween sprinkles (divided)

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Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.

2. Mix in egg yolk and vanilla.

3. Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined.

4. Stir in chocolate chips and sprinkles.

5. For slice-and-bake: roll into log, wrap, and chill 2 hours; slice into rounds.

Rolling Halloween Cut-Out Cookies

6 For cut-outs: roll dough ¼ inch thick, chill, cut shapes, then chill 20 mins.

7. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 mins until edges turn golden.

8. Cool slightly, then decorate with candy eyes, melted chocolate, or extra sprinkles.

Decorating Halloween Cut-Out Cookies

Notes

Don’t overmix; it makes cookies tough.
Chill dough thoroughly for clean edges.
Freeze dough up to 1 month, baked cookies up to 1 week.

Prep Time: 30 mins (+2 hrs chilling)
Cook Time: 12 mins
Category: Dessert, Holiday Baking
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: per 1 cookie
Calories: 164 kcal
Sugar: 7 g
Sodium: 26 mg
Fat: 10 g
Carbohydrates: 17 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 2 g
Cholesterol: 28 mg