Delicious Halloween Cookies Recipes: Bake or Break

It’s that spooky time of year again, and delicious cookie treats are expected. How to bake cookies isn’t as intuitive as it should be. A lot of people just settle for mediocre cookies. Don’t settle for anything less than perfect cookies this Halloween! Get your cookies right the first time and wow your friends and family with some perfectly baked cookies this year.

There are many reasons a cookie can go wrong. Here are some of the most common reasons people end up with a sub-par tray of cookies:

1. Overmixed Batter

You may think that switching your mixer on high will make the dough better since it will quickly combine all the ingredients. However, the big issues with this are that you will incorporate too much air in the dough resulting in some weird looking cookies. Typically, they will turn out spread out and flat. Keep your mixer on a medium to slow speed to avoid this cookie ruiner.

2. Incorrect Cookies Key Temperature

When it comes to baking perfect cookies, knowing the temperature your cookies are baking at is extremely important. If your oven is too low, the cookies won’t set properly. If your oven is too high, they will be a flat blobby mess. Avoid this cookie disaster and be sure to check your oven and cookie temperature. Have a ThermoPro thermometer on hand and become the cookie wizard you’ve always dreamed of!

3. Failure to Use Parchment Paper or Rubber Baking Mat

Although many cookie recipes claim it’s okay to put the batter directly on an ungreased baking sheet, don’t take any risks. Your cookies will be guaranteed not to stick or bake too quickly on the bottom if you simply put them on a layer of parchment or a baking mat.

4. Non-Chilled Dough

Of course, it’s tempting to throw those cookie dough balls right in the oven for immediate consumption, but if you chill the dough first, you will have a much better batch of cookies to enjoy. Why chill the dough? It helps the cookies set better in the oven. If you put room temp cookies in the oven, they will likely not set right and spread out. No one wants a flat cookie when they could have a perfect 1/2 inch tasty masterpiece of a cookie instead.

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Here are two amazing cookie recipes you can test right now with your new knowledge!

World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie

We can’t be humble about this one. Soft, gooey, and the perfect thickness. No other chocolate chip cookie in the world can top this!

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Chill Time: at least 1 hour

Bake Time: 6 to 8 minutes

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted, softened butter
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup pecans, chopped but not minced

Instructions

• 1. Preheat oven to 400F. Check temperature with ThermoPro thermometer to be sure it’s accurate!
• 2. Start by sifting dry ingredients together in a bowl: flour, salt, and baking soda.
• 3. In a mixer, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar on medium-low speed. Once thoroughly combined, add in the vanilla and eggs. Now you’ll really start creating that classic cookie smell! Be sure to fully incorporate the vanilla and eggs. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix.
• 4. Add in the flour mixture a half cup at a time. Continue to mix on medium-low speed. Once the mixture is combined, use a wooden spoon to add in the chocolate chips. Do the same with the chopped pecans.
• 5. Chill your dough for one hour at least. Be patient! It’s so worth it.
• 6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a rubber baking mat.
• 7. Once the dough is properly chilled, take it out and let it rest for a few minutes in room temp. Use your hands to roll 2-inch dough balls and drop them on the tray. Be sure to place them 2 inches apart from one another, so you don’t end up with kissing cookies.
• 8. Bake cookies until slightly golden brown. The idea is you want to take them out of the oven just a minute before they are done because they will continue to cook on the hot tray once you pull them out.
• 9. Let them cool completely. Place them on a wire rack to cool quicker.
• 10. Enjoy your chocolate chip perfection confection!

Perfect Cut Out Sugar Cookies

The best holiday cookies are the ones you can cut out into shapes and make them look like anything. Whether it’s pumpkin-shaped cookies or witches riding broomsticks, this dough recipe will be perfect for that cookie cutter.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Chill Time: At least 1 hour

Bake Time: 6 to 8 minutes

Makes about 50 cookies.

Ingredients

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

• 1. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and brown sugar. Once those are looking smooth and creamy, add in the eggs and vanilla extract.
• 2. In a separate bowl, sift together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Once you have whisked those together and they are combined, add the dry mixture to the wet mixture 1/2 cup at a time. Keep the mixer on medium speed and watch your mixtures turn into cookie dough magic.
• 3. Cover your dough with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for at least one hour. With dough that you will be rolling out, the longer you can refrigerate it the better. Preferably chill it overnight.
• 4. Be sure your oven is preheated before you pull out the dough and start making cute ghost-shaped cookies. For this recipe, you’ll want to preheat your oven to 400F degrees.
• 5. Line your baking trays with parchment paper or a rubber baking mat.
• 6. Pull out your dough from the fridge. It’s best only to pull out the dough you’re going to throw in the oven within 15 minutes. You don’t want to have a bunch of dough sitting out going unbaked because then it will warm up to room temp.
• 7. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until the thickness is about 1/4 inch. Cut out your cookies into fun shapes and place them 1 inch apart from one another on the baking sheet.
• 8. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until they are slightly golden brown. Use a thermometer to make sure they are being baked at the correct temperature.
• 9. Let them chill for a good 10 minutes before you decorate with icing.
• 10. Enjoy!

Use these cookie tips to make the perfect cookies all season long. Once you’ve mastered them, you’ll be a non-stop cookie-making machine!