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Halloween Pumpkin Cookies with Ghost Decorations

Halloween Pumpkin Cookies with Ghost Decorations
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These Halloween Pumpkin Cookies with Ghost Decorations combine soft, tender pumpkin-spiced cookies with charming, spooky ghost-shaped icing. Perfect for festive celebrations, these cookies offer a cozy fall flavor and a fun decorating activity suitable for all ages.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough Ingredients

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose blend)
  • 1 cup sugar (brown or white)
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ghost Icing Ingredients

  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2–4 tablespoons milk or cream (to desired consistency)
  • Black food coloring or edible markers (for ghost faces)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: Cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well. Incorporate the pumpkin puree, then add the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and warm spices). Mix just until combined to keep the dough tender.
  2. Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour. Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it easier to roll and cut without sticking or losing shape.
  3. Roll and Cut the Cookies: Lightly flour your surface and roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them spaced on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  4. Bake to Perfection: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are slightly golden but centers remain soft. Cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
  5. Prepare the Ghost Icing: Whisk confectioners’ sugar with milk or cream until smooth and spreadable, adjusting consistency as needed. Tint the majority white for the ghost base and reserve some black icing or edible markers for facial details.
  6. Decorate with Ghost Designs: Spread or pipe the white icing on cooled pumpkin cookies to create ghost shapes. Use black icing or edible markers to add eyes and mouths for spooky faces.

Notes

  • Chill dough properly before cutting to prevent spreading and maintain sharp cookie edges.
  • Use fresh cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to maximize warm fall flavors.
  • Adjust icing consistency by adding milk slowly if too thick or more confectioners’ sugar if too runny.
  • Practice piping ghost shapes on parchment before decorating cookies for best results.
  • Store decorated cookies in a single layer or separated with parchment to protect the icing.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween cookies, pumpkin cookies, ghost decoration, fall dessert, festive treats, gluten free pumpkin cookies

Find it online: https://mealsbymary.com/halloween-pumpkin-cookies-with-ghost-decorations/