Description
Simple almond shortbread cookies shaped like spooky witch fingers for Halloween.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds (for fingernails)
- Red food coloring (optional, for ‘blood’)
Instructions
- Beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the almond extract.
- Divide the dough into two equal parts. Add a few drops of red food coloring to one half if desired, mixing until color is uniform.
- Shape the dough into logs about 3/4 inch thick. Cut the logs into 4-inch long pieces.
- Roll one end of each piece slightly thinner to form the knuckle area. Press a slight indentation near the tip for the joint.
- Press one sliced almond onto the tip of each cookie to resemble a fingernail.
- Place cookies on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- If using red coloring, lightly brush the knuckle indentations with red food coloring immediately after removing from the oven.
- Let cookies cool completely on the baking sheet before moving them.
Notes
- For a more realistic look, you can gently score lines across the dough before baking to mimic knuckles.
- If the dough becomes too soft while shaping, chill it again briefly.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 35
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 30
Keywords: Witch Finger Cookies, Halloween cookies, almond cookies, shortbread, spooky dessert