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Skeleton Cookies

These Skeleton Cookies are the perfect blend of spooky and sweet, ideal for Halloween festivities, family gatherings, or school events.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Halloween
Calories: 150
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Royal Icing
  • 2 large egg whites (or powdered egg whites) For an egg-free option, consider using meringue powder mixed with water.
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
  • to taste black food coloring
  • optional edible glitter For a spooky sparkle.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl.
  4. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat until combined.
  5. Gradually mix in the flour mixture until fully combined. Optionally, add edible glitter.
  6. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and chill for about an hour.
  7. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick and use bone-shaped cookie cutters to create skeleton shapes.
  8. Place the cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
  9. Let the cookies cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
Making the Royal Icing
  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the egg whites, powdered sugar, and lemon juice. Beat until it forms stiff peaks.
  2. Divide the icing into bowls and add black food coloring to one batch.
  3. Decorate the cookies using piping bags or zip-top bags.

Notes

Chilling the dough helps maintain the shape of the cookies and makes rolling easier. For icing thickness, add more powdered sugar if too runny or a little water if too stiff. Have fun decorating with skeleton faces!