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Easy Orange & Black Halloween Sugar Cookies Recipe

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These Easy Orange and Black Halloween Sugar Cookies are a perfect recreation of bakery magic, with a soft-but-snappy texture and vibrant Halloween colors. Quick and easy to make with simple ingredients, they’re the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any spooky celebration.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Orange gel food coloring
  • Black gel food coloring
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Sprinkles or sanding sugar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar together: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy—about 3-4 minutes with a mixer on medium speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through.
  3. Add the egg and vanilla: Crack in the room-temperature egg and pour in the vanilla extract. Beat on low until just combined.
  4. Mix the dry ingredients separately: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed. Stop as soon as the dough comes together—no white streaks, but also no overmixing.
  6. Divide and color the dough: Split the dough into two equal halves. Add orange gel food coloring to one half and black gel food coloring to the other. Knead the color in with your hands until evenly distributed.
  7. Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll each color to about ¼-inch thickness using even pressure.
  8. Cut out your shapes: Dip your cookie cutters in flour before each cut to prevent sticking. Press firmly and lift straight up. Reroll the scraps and cut more shapes.
  9. Bake the cookies: Place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. The edges should be just barely golden; centers will look slightly underdone.
  10. Cool completely: Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Make the glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. It should be thick but pourable—think honey consistency.
  12. Decorate your cookies: Dip the tops of cooled cookies into the glaze or use a piping bag to drizzle it on. Add sprinkles immediately before the glaze sets. Let them dry on the cooling rack for about 30 minutes.

Notes

Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors. No chilling required, but chilling the cut-out cookies for 10 minutes before baking helps them hold their shape. Start checking cookies at 8 minutes to avoid overbaking. The glaze sets in about 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Freeze unglazed cookies for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween sugar cookies, orange and black cookies, easy sugar cookies, Halloween dessert, no-chill sugar cookies, spooky cookies

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/easy-orange-and-black-halloween-sugar-cookies-recipe/