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Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies

Everyone needs a classic recipe for Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies. These are easy to make and will make an adorable display at any Halloween party!

jack-o'-lantern cookies decorated to look like pumpkins on a purple plate

Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies

Halloween just screams for adorable, spooky and sweet treats and if you are looking for the perfect Halloween cookie, this is it!

These Jack O Lantern Cookies are so good you could eat the whole batch in one go (no judgement here)!

jack-o'-lantern cookies decorated to look like pumpkins on a purple plate

They are so cute and colorful, and they’re really fun to make.  You could serve these at a Costume party, or brighten up a buffet table for Halloween Dinner.

They’re made with a sweet sugar cookie dough, that’s a little chewy, and has just the right amount of crunch, with Vanilla flavored Frosting, and sprinkles. No matter what age, everyone is going to love these!

jack-o'-lantern cookies decorated to look like pumpkins on a purple plate

Want more fun Halloween treats? Check out: No Bake Halloween Cheesecake, Candy Corn Sugar Cookies, Pumpkin Sugar Cookies, and Eyeball Jello Shots.

How to Make Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies

Ingredients:

For The Cookies:

For The Frosting:

jack-o'-lantern cookies decorated to look like pumpkins on a purple plate

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the Butter, Sugar, Eggs, and Vanilla, and blend on Medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add Flour one cup at a time, and mix on low speed until all the Flour has been added, and a soft cookie dough has formed. 

Place about 1/4 of the dough on a floured surface, and with a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4 inch thick.

Cut out the cookies with the Cookie Cutters, and place on baking sheets, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Continue until all the cookie dough has been rolled, cut out, and baked. 

When cookies are baked,  remove from the oven and place cookies on a wire rack to cool. 

While the Cookies are cooling, make the Frosting.

jack o lantern cookie baked

In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, mix the Powdered sugar, Milk, and Vanilla on low speed until blended, then mix on higher speed until mixed completely. 

Divide the Frosting evenly, into three individual dishes or Ramekins. 

Add a few drops of food coloring to the Frosting, and stir well until desired color is reached.  Add colored Frosting to clear piping bags, and snip off the tip of each bag, leaving a small opening at the tip of the bag.

Pipe the Black Frosting in the opening for the eyes and mouth. Sprinkle the Black Sugars on top of the Frosting, and with a small brush, brush away any excess sugars. 

hand piping frosting onto baked jack o lantern cookie

Pipe the Orange Frosting around the edges of the cookies, then fill in each cookie with the Orange, all but the cut outs for the eyes and mouth. 

hand piping orange frosting onto baked jack o lantern cookie

Pipe the Green Frosting onto the stem of the cookies, and Sprinkle with Halloween Sprinkles on the stem.

hand piping green frosting onto baked jack o lantern cookie

Pipe thin lines of Orange Frosting down the Cookie to mimic pumpkin spines.

Serve and Enjoy!

jack o lantern cookies on a white wood table
Jack-O'-Lantern Cookies

Jack-O'-Lantern Cookies

Yield: 25 Cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes

Everyone needs a classic recipe for Jack-O'-Lantern Cookies. These are easy to make and will make an adorable display at any Halloween party!

Ingredients

For The Cookies:

  • 2 cups of Butter - softened to room temperature
  • 2 cups of Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 3 teaspoons of Vanilla
  • 5 cups of Flour

For The Frosting:

  • 2 cups of Powdered Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons of Milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla
  • Food Coloring Gel - Orange, Green, and Black
  • Halloween Sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the Butter, Sugar, Eggs, and Vanilla, and blend on Medium speed until light and fluffy.
  3. Add Flour one cup at a time, and mix on low speed until all the Flour has been added, and a soft cookie dough has formed. 
  4. Place about 1/4 of the dough on a floured surface, and with a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4 inch thick.
  5. Cut out the cookies with the Cookie Cutters, and place on baking sheets, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Continue until all the cookie dough has been rolled, cut out, and baked. 
  6. When cookies are baked,  remove from the oven and place cookies on a wire rack to cool. 
  7. While the Cookies are cooling, make the Frosting.
  8. In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, mix the Powdered sugar, Milk, and Vanilla on low speed until blended, then mix on higher speed until mixed completely. 
  9. Divide the Frosting evenly, into three individual dishes or Ramekins. 
  10. Add a few drops of food coloring to the Frosting, and stir well until desired color is reached.  Add colored Frosting to clear piping bags, and snip off the tip of each bag, leaving a small opening at the tip of the bag.
  11. Pipe the Black Frosting in the opening for the eyes and mouth. Sprinkle the Black Sugars on top of the Frosting, and with a small brush, brush away any excess sugars. 
  12. Pipe the Orange Frosting around the edges of the cookies, then fill in each cookie with the Orange, all but the cut outs for the eyes and mouth. 
  13. Pipe the Green Frosting onto the stem of the cookies, and Sprinkle with Halloween Sprinkles on the stem.
  14. Pipe thin lines of Orange Frosting down the Cookie to mimic pumpkin spines.
  15. Serve and Enjoy!

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