Homemade Halloween Frosted Animal Cookies

Frosted animal cookies in festive Halloween colors arranged on a plate.

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Homemade Halloween Frosted Animal Cookies

Homemade Halloween Frosted Animal Cookies are buttery, crisp, and dipped in festive colored candy melts. Fun to make, great for Halloween!

Course Baking, Dessert

Cuisine American

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Chill time 40

Servings cookies

Calories 45kcal

Author Lise Sullivan Ode

Equipment

Ingredients

3 cups all purpose flour (or 1 pound)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For frosting

1 cup orange candy melts
1 cup white candy melts
1 cup chocolate candy melts or semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons Halloween sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, add flour, baking powder, and salt (measuring the flour with a food scale is the most accurate, but not required). Whisk to combine and remove any lumps. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar for 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat 1 minute more. Gradually mix in the flour until the dough pulls away from the sides. Transfer to parchment, knead a few minutes, then divide in half, wrap in parchment, and chill 30 minutes.
Place another sheet of parchment on top and roll with a rolling pin until ⅛–¼ inch thick. Cut into 1.5" shapes and remove the excess dough, leaving the cut shapes in place. Gently slide the parchment with the cookies onto a baking sheet with raised edges, such as a half sheet pan. Bake 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden. Let cool completely. Gather the leftover dough scraps, re-roll between parchment, and cut out more cookies until all the dough is used.
Melt orange candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals until smooth, stirring well. If too thick, stir in a few teaspoons of vegetable oil. Dip a few cookies at a time, using a fork and gently tapping on the side of the bowl to let excess drip off. Place on a parchment-lined sheet and add Halloween sprinkles while the coating is still wet. Chill 10–15 minutes to set. Repeat with the remaining cookies using white and chocolate candy melts or chocolate chips, sprinkling before the coating sets.
Once the coating has set, store the animal cookies covered at room temperature for up to one week. In warmer climates, keep them covered in the refrigerator. You can also freeze these cookies for up to 3 months!

Video

Notes

For best results, be sure to chill the dough for at least 30 minutes so the cookies keep their shape while baking. Rolling the dough between parchment paper makes it easier to handle and transfer to the baking sheet. And don’t forget to add the sprinkles right after dipping - before the candy melts have a chance to set.

Nutrition