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42 Halloween Cookie Recipes That Guarantee A Spooky Good Time

These might just beat out Halloween candy.

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hocus pocus binx cookies
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

Yes, it's 100% true that Halloween is all about the candy, BUT your sweet intake for the holiday does not have to end there. We're here to advocate for Halloween cookies, too. These 42 scary-easy recipes are not only a fun seasonal activity to enjoy making (and eating!) with kids, but they're also a clever way to use up any leftover Halloween candy, or and the perfect way to add even more fall flavor into your life. So if you're looking to maximize all your treats, bake some of these spooky good cookie ideas this year!

If you're looking for tricks with your Halloween treats, you'll really spook your friends when you present them with a batch of Dracula dentures, glowing black widow Oreo pops, and candy corn cobs. Some of these, like our mummy pops, our witch finger cookies, or our ube crinkle cookies (and really all of our scary-looking Halloween recipes), might almost be too scary-cute to eat. Almost.

Looking for more treats than tricks? Our apple crisp cookie cups, our pumpkin cheesecake cookies, our buckeye cookies, and more are full of the best that fall has to offer. They're proof you can eat your fruits and veggies AND cookies too! Win win.

Want more Halloween dessert ideas? Check out our favorite Halloween cakes and Halloween cupcakes too. And a little Halloween punch never hurt anyone. Need some Halloween party decoration ideas? We've got tons of pumpkin carving ideas to trick out your front yard (or just your apartment living room), as well as some next-level trunk or treat ideas too.

1

Pumpkin S'mores Cookies

cookies with pumpkin topped with toasted marshmallows
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Tender pumpkin cookies are one of our favorite fall desserts. Add chocolate chips or fold in oatmeal and chopped nuts—the sky's the limit when it comes to shaking up this fall treat. The aromatics in pumpkin spice remind us of cinnamon graham crackers, and graham crackers make us think of s’mores. And OH MY GOURD: If you combine a tender pumpkin cookie and all of the classic s’mores ingredients, the result is perfection.

Get the Pumpkin S'mores Cookies recipe.

2

Hocus Pocus-Inspired S'mores Pops

chocolate pops with candy eyes
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

You'll love these even more than Bette Midler loved her booooook! Make our Hocus Pocus Jell-O shots and our Binx cookies to complete your spread.

Get the Hocus Pocus-Inspired S'mores Pops recipe.

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3

Apple Cider Cookies

apple cider cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Apple cider donuts are our absolute favorite thing about fall. While making donuts is quite fun, they’re time consuming, and not to mention the mess of frying with oil or needing a donut pan to bake them. These cookies are the perfect substitution.

Get the Apple Cider Cookies recipe.

4

Hocus Pocus Binx Cookies

hocus pocus binx cookies
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

Hocus Pocus is a must-watch every year, and these adorable Binx cookies are in honor of the classic movie character. Black cocoa powder turns these chewy chocolate cookies a dark rich color, perfect for our favorite talking cat.

Get the Hocus Pocus Binx Cookies recipe.

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5

Glazed Maple Leaf Cookies

glazed maple leaf cookies topped with pecans
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

In this maple-inspired recipe, I spiced up our cut-out sugar cookie with cinnamon, maple syrup, and walnuts to make an aromatic and nutty-flavored cookie dough that will make you feel like you're taking a brisk fall hike among maple trees. Let’s make “maple syrup fall” happen!

Get the Glazed Maple Leaf Cookies recipe.

6

Jack Skellington Oreo Pops

white chocolate covered oreo pops decorated as jack skellington with icing
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Not to be corny, but these Oreo pops are... scary good. Feel free to decorate these however you like, but we're partial to these Jack Skellingtons and these glowing black widow Oreo pops!

Get the Jack Skellington Oreo Pops recipe.

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7

Monster Cookies

monster cookies with oatmeal and mm's candy
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

The origin of the name "monster" cookies isn't clear, but it may refer to the fact that they're like Frankenstein's monster—they're a combination of many parts of other cookies (ours features oats, M&M's, peanuts, and pretzels) and are endlessly riffable.

Get the Monster Cookies recipe.

8

Witch Finger Cookies

witch finger cookies
RACHEL VANNI

Ghouls, goblins, and witches to the front, please! These witch finger cookies are exactly what they sound like: a shortbread cookie shaped into a severed finger and adorned with an almond nail and a bit of blood-red jam.

Get the Witch Finger Cookies recipe.

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9

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

pumpkin cookies with a cheesecake filling
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDSERON

Get your pumpkin and cheesecake fix in one with these pumpkin-spiced cookies stuffed with a little surprise: cream cheese filling! The warming pumpkin spice cookies complement the creamy, tangy flavors of cheesecake, creating the most decadent cookie you'll have all season long.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies recipe.

10

Almond Joy Cookies

almond joy cookies
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER, FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

What if your favorite coconut-almond-chocolate candy bar morphed into a crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth cookie? We've done it! Joy is in the name for a reason.

Get the Almond Joy Cookies recipe.

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11

Ube Crinkle Cookies

purple ube crinkle cookies
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: VICTORIA GRANOF

With its striking color and a unique nutty vanilla flavor profile, ube has taken over the world. Upgrade your average crinkle cookie this Halloween with ube extract and ube halaya, a popular Filipino pudding made with ube and condensed milk. Your guests won't know what hit 'em!

Get the Ube Crinkle Cookies recipe.

12

Ghost Cookies

ghost cookies
Parker feierbach

The best way to never be afraid of ghosts? Turn them into cute little sugar cookies. These spooky ghosts will be a hit at every Halloween party and are far easier to make than they look!

Get the Ghost Cookies recipe.

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13

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
Parker feierbach

Adding pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice to chocolate chip cookie dough results in a heavenly pillow-like cookie with major autumn vibes. Yum!

Get the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

14

Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Biscotti

pumpkin spice chocolate chip biscotti
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Since pumpkin puree adds extra moisture to the cookies, these won’t get quite as dry as traditional biscotti, but are still plenty sturdy. Serve these with a pumpkin spice latte for a double-dose of fall this year.

Get the Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Biscotti recipe.

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15

Twix Cookies

twix cookies
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These easy Twix cookies are the simplest way to make a copycat of our favorite candy bar. Crunchy shortbread is topped with caramel and milk chocolate and mimics a Twix perfectly. If you like salty sweet, a little flaky sea salt on the chocolate before it sets is divine too.

Get the Twix Cookies recipe.

16

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

pumpkin oatmeal cookies
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

These fall treats combine the best of oatmeal cookies with pumpkin's delicious seasonality. Soft and chewy with a maple glaze that adds an autumnal flair, these pumpkin oatmeal cookies are just the thing to fill up your cookie jar this October.

Get the Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies recipe.

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17

Pumpkin Cookies

pumpkin cookies topped with cinnamon sugar
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

We bake a lot of cookies, so when one surprises us with how good it is, it’s exciting. These cookies are soft and chewy with just a subtle warm spice to them. They aren’t cake-y like a lot of pumpkin desserts tend to be thanks to a simple way of getting rid of the excess moisture from the pumpkin.

Get the Pumpkin Cookies recipe.

18

Potato Chip Cookies

potato chip cookies
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Love chocolate chip cookies? Prepare to meet your new obsession. Sweet and salty, crunchy on the outside and chewy in the center, these potato chip cookies take everything we love about the classic chocolate chip cookie and crank up the volume—big time.

Get the Potato Chip Cookies recipe.

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19

Dracula Dentures

dracula dentures
Alexa Payesko

We used store-bought ingredients to make things a little easier for you, but feel free to swap for homemade if you like—all you need is some chocolate chip cookies, vanilla frosting, red food coloring, mini marshmallows, and almonds. They're a fun anytime snack this holiday season.

Get the Vampire Cookies recipe.

20

M&M Cookie Bars

mm cookie bars cut into squares
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

These have all the comfort of a chocolate chip cookie, with the added crunch of M&M's and the heft of a bar shape, making for a delicious treat that’s impossible to put down. Try them with seasonal M&M's to switch them up for Halloween too.

Get the M&M Cookie Bars recipe.

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