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Spiced Halloween Sugar Cookies

These festive sugar cookies are flavored with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, giving them a cozy, inviting aroma. They are rolled out to a tender, slightly crumbly texture and cut into fun Halloween shapes, then baked until lightly golden. Perfect for decorating with icing and sprinkles, they combine a nostalgic crunch with a charming spooky appearance.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 24
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon adjust to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg optional, for warmth

Equipment

  • Rolling pin
  • Cookie cutters
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire rack

Method
 

  1. Begin by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F) and lining baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and fragrant, about 3 minutes. This creates a smooth, pale mixture with a gentle whirring sound.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, resulting in a glossy, cohesive batter that smells sweet and warm.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg to evenly distribute the spices, creating a fragrant, speckled mixture.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until the dough begins to come together, forming a soft but manageable ball.
  6. Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to about 0.5cm thickness, pressing gently to create an even layer that’s easy to shape.
  7. Using Halloween-shaped cookie cutters, cut out your favorite spooky shapes, pressing firmly to maintain clean edges.
  8. Transfer the cutouts carefully onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart for even baking.
  9. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are just golden and the cookies feel firm around the edges but still soft in the center.
  10. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing the shapes to set perfectly.
  11. Once cooled, decorate your spooky treats with icing, sprinkles, or edible glitter for a festive, colorful finish.
  12. Enjoy these charming, spiced Halloween sugar cookies with friends and family, sharing in the fun and festive spirit of the season!

Notes

Chill the dough for 15 minutes if cookies spread too much during baking. Decorate only after cookies are completely cooled to avoid smearing icing. Feel free to customize shapes and decorations to suit your spooky theme.