These Halloween Sugar Cookies are the perfect spooky treat! They are loaded with colorful sprinkles and make a frightfully fun dessert for your Halloween night.

The time for ghosts, bats, and spooky black cats is almost here! Halloween recipes like Jack O’Lantern Floats, Candy Corn Cookie Balls, Halloween Dirt Cups, and these fun sprinkle cookies are sure to be a hit with your friends, family, and trick or treaters!

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Halloween is always such a fun holiday. Taking my kids trick or treating is my favorite part of the day, and they of course love coming home with a bucket full of candy!

I like to make a few fun things for dinner or dessert that night, and these Halloween Sugar Cookies are one of our favorites. 

a hand holding a sprinkle cookie

This is a great recipe for getting your kids involved in the kitchen. Little hands love mixing the colored dough together and then rolling the dough in the sprinkles!

These cookies are perfect for Halloween parties, too. They are easily customizable to whatever kind of sprinkles you have on hand. The possibilities are endless!

Ingredients for Halloween Sugar Cookies

ingredients laid out to make cookies
  • unsalted butter
  •  brown sugar
  • granulated white sugar
  • egg
  • vanilla extract
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • baking powder
  • white chocolate chips, optional
  • Neon green, orange, and purple food coloring
  • Halloween sprinkles

How to Make Halloween Sugar Cookies – Step by Step

step by step graphic for how to make halloween cookies

Step 1: Make the Dough

In a large bowl cream together the butter and both sugars with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix until combined. The dough will be very crumbly, but don’t worry because it will come together when you add in the food coloring. Stir in the white chocolate chips.

Step 2: Divide and Color the Dough

Divide the dough into 3 equal portions and add one food color to each portion. Mix until the color is uniform. Because of how crumbly the dough can be, I use my hands for this step. Using your hands will help distribute the colors evenly and will help to smooth out the dough. Just wash and dry your hands thoroughly between each color.

Step 3: Roll the dough

Take a bit of each of the 3 different colored doughs and roll together to form a ball and flatten slightly. The colors should swirl a bit together; repeat until you have 12 cookies.

Step 4: Add Sprinkles and Chill

Roll the top and sides of the cookies in your Halloween sprinkles and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Step 5: Bake

Meanwhile preheat the oven to 375 degrees. After the dough is done chilling, bake the Halloween Sugar cookies in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes. When the cookies come out of the oven, fill in any spots that look bare with some sprinkles. Cool 5 minutes and then transfer to a rack to finish cooling.

Halloween sugar cookies with sprinkles on a cutting board

Tips and Notes

  • Line your baking pan: I recommend lining your cookie sheets with either parchment paper or reusable silicone baking mats. They help your cookies bake evenly and prevent the dough from spreading too much.
  • Don’t skip the chilling step! It’s important to chill this dough to prevent it from spreading while in the oven. You want your Halloween Sugar cookies to be nice and thick, so make sure the dough has time to chill properly.
  • Custom options: feel free to mix it up with whatever food coloring or sprinkles you would like. This recipe can be adapted to any season!
  • How to store: once the cookies have cooled completely, place in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.
Halloween sugar cookies with sprinkles on a cutting board

Can these Sugar Cookies be made gluten free?

Yes! In order to make these cookies gluten free, first you will need to swap out the flour for your favorite gluten-free flour. I would recommend one of the blends from either Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur Flour. Also be sure to double check your baking powder. Most brands are gluten free.

Halloween cookies with colorful sprinkles

Can I freeze these Halloween Sugar Cookies?

Yes! Store in a freezer zipper bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw the cookies on the counter before serving. 

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!

Halloween sugar cookies with sprinkles on a cutting board
5 from 6 ratings

Recipe: Halloween Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
These Halloween Sugar Cookies are the perfect spooky treat! They are loaded with colorful sprinkles and make a frightfully fun dessert for your Halloween night.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, optional
  • Neon green, orange, and purple food coloring
  • Assorted Halloween sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl cream together the butter and both sugars with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix until combined. The dough will be very crumbly, but don't worry because it will come together when you add in the food coloring. Stir in the white chocolate chips, if using.
  • Divide the dough into 3 equal portions and add one food color to each portion. Mix until the color is uniform. Because of how crumbly the dough can be, I use my hands for this step. Using your hands will help distribute the colors evenly and will help to smooth out the dough. Just wash and dry your hands thoroughly between each color.
  • Take a bit of each of the 3 different colored doughs and roll together to form a ball then flatten slightly. The colors should swirl a bit together; repeat until you have 12 cookies.
  • Roll the top and sides of the cookies in your Halloween sprinkle and place on a greased cookie sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile preheat the oven to 375 degrees. After the dough is done chilling, bake the Halloween Sugar cookies in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes. When the cookies come out of the oven, fill in any spots that look bare with some sprinkles. Cool 5 minutes and then transfer to a rack to finish cooling.

Notes

  • Line your baking pan: I recommend lining your cookie sheets with either parchment paper or reusable silicone baking mats. They help your cookies bake evenly and prevent the dough from spreading too much.
  • Don’t skip the chilling step! It’s important to chill this dough to prevent it from spreading, You want your Halloween Sugar cookies to be nice and thick, so make sure the dough has time to chill properly.
  • Custom options: feel free to mix it up with whatever food coloring or sprinkles you would like. This recipe can be adapted to any season!
  • How to store: once the cookies have cooled completely, place in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.
  • Gluten Free: In order to make these cookies gluten free, first you will need to swap out the flour for your favorite gluten-free flour. I would recommend one of the blends from either Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur Flour. Also be sure to double check your baking powder. Most brands are gluten free.
  • Freezing: Store in a freezer zipper bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw the cookies on the counter before serving. 
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Calories: 259kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 114mg, Potassium: 87mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 258IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @TheBelleoftheKitchen on Instagram or tag #BelleoftheKitchen.