One of my favourite Halloween treats are these dead finger sugar cookies. They are always a big hit!
To keep the fingers as thin as possible during baking I roll out the dough thinly so it will keep the shape, as cookie dough tends to spread out. You can paint the almond nails with food colouring gels. I like to keep them natural with just a little dusting of cocoa powder, just like on the photo.
This is what I use:
Sugar cookie dough (please find recipe below)
Pastry brush
Plastic wrap
30-40 blanched almonds, cut into halves after the skin is removed
1 teaspoon dark cocoa powder + a little brush
Baking sheets
Knife
Sugar cookie recipe:
I get about 24-30 cookie fingers out of this portion.
2 large eggs (1 whole egg + 1 yolk. Use the leftover egg white for brushing the cookies)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla or almond extract
8 tablespoons (1 stick) (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (65 grams) confectioners’ sugar
5 tablespoons (60 grams) granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
1 2/3 cups (235 grams) all-purpose flour
1. In a bowl add the two types of sugar, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt and the egg + yolk. Stir well with a wooden spoon.
2. Next stir in the softened butter
3. Add the flour and stir until it’s all combined
4. Take the dough and knead it lightly. Wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart
Heat your oven to 350 degrees (175 C)
Step 1:
Take a small piece of cookie dough (walnut size) and roll it back and forth. You should make the finger long and thinly (think, witch long and creepy) for best results. Pinch and form knuckles. Score with a knife and transfer the fingers to the prepared baking sheet. Brush the cookies with the leftover egg white and place a almond “nail” on the cookie fingers. Chill for 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
Step 2:
Place the baking sheet in the middle of the oven and bake the finger cookies for about 12-15 minutes. They should be just lightly browned. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.
Step 3:
Dust the fingers with a little cocoa powder and your creepy dead finger cookies are ready to be served.
Happy Caking!
Louise
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Wow, great article.Much thanks again. Will read on
I tried this recipe yesterday. Came almost true to pictures. End product tasted delicious albeit a bit on the crispier side. It could have been either due to over baking or over mixing. Nevertheless, I will use this recipe again in the future.
Great recipe and big thanks for real cookie dough recipe not “use store bought cookie dough”. Will make them tomorrow, double 🙂
Wow what an idea! i’m gonna try this. Thanks for the details
Girl, you sure impress! I was thinking, “How the heck did she make those? What are they made from?” And here, you’ve explained it beautifully. You are wonderful, thanks for your inspiration.
Unique ideas of making cakes…eye catching…and superb..!!
oh my fucken god these r good
cool!.. thanks for sharing!
Just made these,they weren’t as perfect as the photos but still look amazing,for a first effort, forgot to glaze them and refrigerate….was in a rush! so some of the ‘nails’ fell off but just stuck them back on with icing.Am really please with the results,the kids are gonna love them.Many Thanks.
Creepy wonderful and eyecatching cookies!
This is cool. Thans !!!!!!!!!
Just finished making them! They taste amazing! Im usually a cupcake kind of girl but couldnt help but create these for my halloween get together tomorrow!
Absolutely fabulous, I will start trying to create these tonight!
these are so amazing! I’m featuring them tomorrow on my blog http://www.trilogyedibles.com
Thank you!
Wow! These totally rock! I’m gonna have to try them out at home!
These are so realistic I think I would actually have trouble eating them… they look so gross! Kudos!
These are by far the best looking fingers I have seen. I love the use of cocoa powder. Brilliant!
Excellent idea – these look fantastic. Kids will love them!
Wow! Freaky!
These dead fingers really look terrifying!! Congrats and thanks for sharing the recipe!! 😀
Fantastic! I have been looking at the ones you made last year… Thanks so much for the tutorial! I will definitely have to try them out!
sono veramente orribili !!! ;-))
These are great! I think I might make them to bring to work; I’m also thinking about dipping the “cut-off” end of the finger in some “blood”, or maybe just in some red icing 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing and for making it look so easy!!
These looks awesome. Wilton has a pan shaped for fingers as well. I’d like to share my cookie tip. If you don’t want your cookie spreading, especially when using a cutter, don’t use baking soda in the recipe. Also, you can chill the dough before baking.
Hi Kira, I have seen the Wilton pan but sometimes it can get too perfect 😉 Yes, never use baking powder or soda when making cookies. I have never had great luck with that.
What a great idea! I love it! thanks for sharing it.
Thank you 🙂
Hey! That is fantastic idea! I will try it, thanks for sharing:)
These look amazing 🙂
Thank you so much for this recipe and the how to…!!
Those halloween fingers are so creepy ahah ! I’d love to make some for Halloween, i keep your recipe in mind ! Have a nice evening !
Delphine
Looked very difficult to make but with your instructions, looks not too much. Thanks for teaching how to make it.
They are perfectly gross! I love them. Not sure I would be able to eat a finger though, but that’s the point isn’t it?
Great post!
Wow, very nice. We don’t have a big halloween over here, but this year I think we have a party at home.
Awesome!!!!!! Love it!!!!!
These are SO cool!
I’ve made these with pretzel dough and added rosemary to some for a “hairy look” very gross!! Love the idea of sugar cookies, yummy.
Thanks for the tutorial. I will be trying these out for halloween!!
This is cool. Awesome Idea, thanks.
So cool! These look great. I will try them:) Thanks!