Trick-or-Treater Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies:
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract
½ tsp orange zest (optional, for a hint of citrus flavor)
For the Spooky Icing:
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp meringue powder (or egg white powder)
5-6 tbsp water (adjust for desired consistency)
Gel food coloring (black, green, orange, purple)
Edible glitter or sprinkles (for decoration)
Instructions
Making the Sugar Cookies:
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add Egg and Extracts: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange zest until well combined.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Chill the Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This helps the cookies maintain their shape when baking.
Roll and Cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use Halloween-themed cookie cutters (like bats, pumpkins, ghosts, and witches) to cut out shapes.
Bake: Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Making the Spooky Icing:
Prepare the Icing: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. Start with 5 tablespoons of water and add more if needed until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
Color the Icing: Divide the icing into separate bowls based on how many colors you want. Add gel food coloring to each bowl and mix until you reach the desired shades.
Decorate: Once the cookies have completely cooled, use a piping bag or a small offset spatula to decorate the cookies. Create spooky designs like ghosts with white icing, Jack-o’-lanterns with orange icing, and bats with black icing. Feel free to add edible glitter or sprinkles for an extra festive touch!
Set the Icing: Allow the decorated cookies to sit at room temperature until the icing is completely set, about 1-2 hours.
Enjoy!
These Trick-or-Treater Sugar Cookies are not only fun to make but are also perfect for sharing with friends and family during Halloween! Wrap them up as sweet treats for trick-or-treaters, or enjoy them yourself with a glass of milk or hot apple cider. Happy Halloween!
