Description

Hey there, kitchen wizards! These Witch Finger Shortbread Cookies are the ultimate Halloween treat: buttery, crumbly, and delightfully creepy. Perfect for your haunted spread, they’re easy to make with pantry staples and a little creativity. Impress your guests (or kids!) without the stress of complicated decorating. Just roll, shape, and bake—then watch the spooky fun unfold!

Ingredients

Scale

½ cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
Whole almonds (blanched if possible) – 24 for nails
Red food coloring gel or raspberry jam (optional, for “blood”)

Instructions

1. Preheat & Prep

Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Cream Butter & Sugar

In a large bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar until smooth (2-3 mins). Scrape the sides. Add vanilla and beat until just combined.

3. Mix in Flour & Salt

Gradually add flour and salt on low speed. Mix until dough comes together and pulls away from the bowl. Dough should feel like Play-Doh.

4. Shape Fingers

Pinch off ~1 heaping tablespoon of dough per finger. Roll into 3-4 inch logs. Pinch slightly at intervals to form knuckles, and score 2-3 lines with a butter knife.

5. Add Almond Nails

Press an almond into the tip of each finger. Optional: dab a tiny bit of red gel or jam under the almond for a gory effect.

6. Chill

Place cookies on the baking sheet in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to prevent spreading.

7. Bake

Bake 20-25 minutes until bottoms are lightly golden. Tops may remain pale—perfect for shortbread. Watch almonds closely; tent with foil if they brown too fast.

8. Cool

Let cookies cool 5 minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to firm up.

Notes

Butter Temperature: Softened but not greasy. Too warm = spreading.
Almond Adhesion: Press deep into dough; tiny dab of honey or corn syrup helps.
Make Ahead: Freeze unbaked dough logs for up to 2 months. Baked cookies last 5 days in an airtight container.
Variations:
- Chocolate Fingers: Replace ¼ cup flour with cocoa.
- Green Fingers: Add 1-2 tsp matcha powder.
- Spicy Fingers: Add 1 tsp cinnamon + pinch of cayenne.
- Nut-Free: Use white chocolate chips or sunflower seeds for nails.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Nutrition

Calories: 130 kcal Approximate per cookie
Fat: 8 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Carbohydrates: 12 g