Best Witch Hat Halloween Cookies Recipe
Introduction
Celebrate Halloween with these adorable and delicious Witch Hat Cookies! They’re easy to make, fun to decorate, and perfect for spooky gatherings or festive treats.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Purple gel food coloring
- Halloween sprinkles or purple sanding sugar
- 33 chocolate kisses or hugs candies, unwrapped
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Step 3: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Step 4: Beat in the egg, peanut butter, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add purple gel food coloring a drop at a time until you reach the desired color.
- Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
- Step 6: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Step 7: Bake for 8–10 minutes or until the edges are set but the cookies are still soft in the center.
- Step 8: Remove from the oven and immediately press one chocolate kiss or hug candy into the center of each cookie, slightly twisting to secure.
- Step 9: Sprinkle Halloween sprinkles or purple sanding sugar around the base of the candy to create the hatband effect.
- Step 10: Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack or serving plate.
Tips & Variations
- For nut-free cookies, substitute the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter or your preferred allergy-friendly alternative.
- Use different gel food coloring colors to match your Halloween theme or party colors.
- Try using different shaped candies for the hat tops to mix up the look while keeping the same method.
Storage
Store the witch hat cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Reheat briefly in a microwave if you prefer them warm, but be careful not to melt the chocolate too much.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, the dough can be made and refrigerated for up to 2 days before baking. Bring it to room temperature before shaping and baking for best results.
What if I don’t have purple gel food coloring?
You can use liquid food coloring, but gel coloring provides a richer hue without thinning the dough. If you don’t have purple, mix red and blue gel colors to create purple.
PrintBest Witch Hat Halloween Cookies Recipe
These Best Witch Hat Halloween Cookies are festive and fun treats perfect for Halloween celebrations. Crisp peanut butter cookie bases are topped with melted chocolate and festive sprinkles to resemble iconic witch hats.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 33 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Decorations
- Purple gel food coloring
- Halloween sprinkles or purple sanding sugar
- 33 chocolate kisses or hugs candies, unwrapped
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and fine sea salt until fully combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter with the white sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes and is essential for a tender cookie.
- Add Egg, Peanut Butter, and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg, smooth peanut butter, and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing at low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Add Food Coloring: Add a few drops of purple gel food coloring into the dough and gently fold in to create a subtle purple tint for a festive touch.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into approximately 33 small balls (about 1-inch each) and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still slightly soft. Remove from oven.
- Add Chocolate Kisses: Immediately press one unwrapped chocolate kiss or hug candy firmly into the center of each warm cookie, creating the ‘witch hat’ shape.
- Decorate: While the chocolate is still warm, decorate the base of each hat with purple sanding sugar or Halloween-themed sprinkles to give them a festive finish.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely and let the chocolate set.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened for easier creaming and better cookie texture.
- Do not overbake; cookies should be soft in the center when removed from the oven.
- Use gel food coloring to avoid altering dough consistency.
- Sprinkles add extra festive flair but can be substituted with colored sugars or none at all.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Keywords: Halloween cookies, witch hat cookies, peanut butter cookies, festive treats, Halloween desserts, chocolate kiss cookies
