Witch Finger Cookies
Creepy, and delicious – these Witch Finger Cookies feature warty green fingers and a tender buttery bite. Perfect for Halloween parties!
These Witch Finger Cookies are a frightfully fun Halloween treat that’s just as tasty as it is spooky.
Made with buttery shortbread-style dough tinted an eerie green, each finger is detailed with knuckle creases and finished with a sliced almond “nail” secured in a glistening smear of red jam for a realistic bloody effect.
They’re surprisingly easy to make, hold their shape well, and will definitely be the most talked-about treat at any Halloween party.
Tips for Best Results
- Form the dent before baking so it holds its shape and makes adding jam and almonds easier later.
- Use gel food colouring for a vibrant, consistent green that won’t water down your dough.
- Don’t overbake – These cookies are meant to stay pale for the creepiest effect.
- Choose the right jam – Raspberry or strawberry jam works best for a deep red “blood” look.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Unsalted butter – Adds richness; you can use salted butter but reduce the added salt to a pinch.
- Powdered sugar – Gives a smooth, tender texture; granulated sugar can be used but will make the cookies slightly crisper.
- Egg – Helps bind the dough; no substitute recommended for best results.
- Vanilla extract – Adds warmth; you can swap for almond extract for a nuttier flavour.
- All-purpose flour – Forms the structure; gluten-free 1:1 flour blends can be used for a gluten-free version.
- Baking powder – Gives a slight lift; don’t omit.
- Salt – Balances flavour.
- Ground cinnamon – Adds a subtle spice; you could also try ground nutmeg or pumpkin spice for a seasonal twist.
- Green food colouring gel – For the witchy hue; liquid food colouring works, but you may need more to get the same intensity.
- Sliced almonds – Create realistic fingernails; whole, blanched almonds work too.
- Red jam – For the bloody effect; raspberry, strawberry, or cherry jam work best.
Looking for More Creepy Halloween Treats?
Check out more of my favourite Halloween recipes!
Halloween Caprese Salad with mozzarella skulls, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil—fun, festive, and perfect for a spooky celebration!
Mummy Jalapeño Poppers are a fun, festive Halloween treat with a spicy, cheesy filling wrapped in pastry. Perfect for quick party snacks!
This Halloween Dirt Cups recipe is a fun and spooky treat for kids of all ages, especially for those with a bit of a sweet tooth.
Witch Finger Cookies
Yields: About 24 cookies | Prep time: 25 minutes | Cook time: 8–10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Green food colouring gel
- 24 sliced almonds (for “fingernails”)
- 2–3 tablespoons red jam (cherry, strawberry or raspberry works best)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- Combine. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until a soft dough forms. Mix in green food colouring gel until the dough is evenly tinted green.
- Shape fingers. Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into finger shapes about 3 inches long, tapering slightly at one end.
- Add knuckles. Use a toothpick or the edge of an almond to press small indentations along each finger to mimic knuckles.
- Warts. If desired roll a very small amount of dough into a ball and place on finger to make “warts.”
- Make nail dent. Press a shallow dent at the tapered end of each finger with an almond.
- Arrange for baking. Place fingers on baking sheets, spaced apart.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges just begin to set but cookies remain pale and tender.
- Cool slightly. Let cookies cool for 5 minutes until warm but firm enough to handle.
- Add nails. Dab a little red jam into each dent, then press a sliced almond on top to create a “bloody fingernail.”
- Cool completely before serving.
Witch Finger Cookies
Creepy, and delicious – these Witch Finger Cookies feature warty green fingers and a tender buttery bite. Perfect for Halloween parties!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Green food colouring gel
- 24 sliced almonds (for “fingernails”)
- 2 tablespoons red jam (cherry, strawberry or raspberry works best)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- Combine. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until a soft dough forms. Mix in green food colouring gel until the dough is evenly tinted green.
- Shape fingers. Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into finger shapes about 3 inches long, tapering slightly at one end.
- Add knuckles. Use a toothpick or the edge of an almond to press small indentations along each finger to mimic knuckles.
- Warts. If desired roll a very small amount of dough into a ball and place on finger to make “warts.”
- Make nail dent. Press a shallow dent at the tapered end of each finger with an almond.
- Arrange for baking. Place fingers on baking sheets, spaced apart.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges just begin to set but cookies remain pale and tender.
- Cool slightly. Let cookies cool for 5 minutes until warm but firm enough to handle.
- Add nails. Dab a little red jam into each dent, then press a sliced almond on top to create a “bloody fingernail.”
- Cool completely before serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
44Serving Size:
1 CookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 365Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 21mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 7gSugar: 4gProtein: 12g
This information is provided as a courtesy and for entertainment purposes only. This information comes from online calculators. Although frugalmomeh.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
